Read Ruger (Demented Souls, #1) by Melissa Stevens (1) Page 1 Online novels for free

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Dedication

To the Chrises

Chris Hemsworth,

Chris Evans

Chris Pine

Chris Pratt

Thanks for everything. You've done so much for me, but we should probably keep things the way they are... The old man would be interminably jealous if you actually knew I exist.

Special Thanks

To my dad, Wilmer Stephens, for helping me get some of the details right.

To Shannon K. Lessner, for helping me make this book even better. Your help has been invaluable.

––––––––

Krissi stopped inside the bar door and let her eyes adjust to the dim interior. There were no windows and only a few scattered lights. Several seconds passed before she could see well enough to tell there were maybe twenty men in the shadowed room, a couple sitting at the bar but most sitting at the tables scattered through the place.

From the large patches on the few men with their backs to the door, they all appeared to be the same, from what she could tell. The patch took up most of the back of the kuttes, hooded, scythe bearing reapers, looming from behind a motorcycle, and left only enough room for top and bottom rockers that told her they were the Demented Souls. It wasn't a club name she was familiar with, but it didn't matter much what name they went by. This was a motorcycle club hang out. The row of bikes out front hinted at it, but had left the possibility that it was unaffiliated with a club, now there was no doubt. The bikes were why she’d chosen this particular bar. Having grown up amid a club, even though she'd left her home town and the trouble of her dad's club, she missed the atmosphere. She ached with longing for the sense of family she'd felt from the very same club that she couldn't live with anymore. Krissi had passed the bar many times, resisting the urge, before finally stopping.

The man behind the long, polished bar was tall with dark hair smoothed back into a ponytail low on his neck and multi-colored tattoos spreading down both arms.

“What can I do for you?” he asked as she slid onto a cracked red vinyl stool.

“Give me a double of Patron.”

“I gotta see your ID first, Krystal.” He shook his head and held out one hand. Krissi frowned, wondering how he knew her name. He pointed at her shirt, near her left shoulder. “Your name tag.”

“I forgot I even had it on.” Krissi pulled her identification from her pocket and slid it across the bar. He reached for the card, still watching her, and Krissi was captured for a moment by his light, honey eyes. Light eyes with dark hair wasn’t all that common, but somehow it was perfect in his face.

Picking up her driver’s license, the bartender tilted it in the light. She knew he was not only checking her date of birth but was also looking for the hologram to make sure it wasn't fake. It didn’t worry her. She'd used fake IDs before, but she didn’t need to anymore, this one was real. Passing the card back, he pulled a glass from behind the counter and poured the drink. He was reaching for a small salt shaker and a slice of lime when she shook her head.

“Don't need that shit.” Krissi picked up the glass and threw it back, swallowing the amber liquor in two long swallows. “Perfect.” The glass thumped as it hit the bar. “How about a bottle of Corona?”

The man behind the bar shook his head and pulled the beer from the cooler. “You want the lime with this one?”

“Nope.” She watched as he popped the top and set the bottle on the bar.

“That'll be $13.”

Krystal slid her debit card across the counter. “Start a tab.” His fingers brushed against hers as he reached for the card and she shivered. Krissi hoped he hadn’t noticed as he turned away and put the it beside the register. Picking up the bottle, she spun on her stool so she faced the rest of the bar.

Of the maybe twenty men in the room, less than a half dozen not wearing the sleeveless leather vests typical of motorcycle clubs. Hell, even the man behind the bar wore one. He seemed to be all muscle with the tattoos down his arms and Krissi wanted to watch him more closely but didn’t want to get caught doing so. Only a couple other women were in the bar, other than the waitress, and neither wore club colors, so if they were connected to the club, they weren’t ol’ ladies. As she scanned the bar, Krissi noticed the few men without the patch covered vests weren't off on their own. Except for one, who sat at the end of the bar nursing a mug of beer, they were as scattered as the bikers and sat at tables with two or three club members.

In one corner hung a dartboard, a pair of barely-there thong panties pinned to it with several darts. Framed photos, mostly snapshots, littered much of the wall space. She was curious about them but knew better than to get up and go inspect them, at least not on her first visit.

Turning the stool as she took in the rest of the place, Krissi took a long pull from the bottle in her hand as she turned back to facing the bar and the mirror behind it. Above the mirror hung a mangled front wheel and a twisted pair of handle bars. Someone had been in a spectacular crash. She wondered if they'd survived and how long it had taken them to recover if they had.

Krissi’s eyes went to the man behind the bar. He checked on the man at the end, filled orders for the single waitress making rounds and kept himself busy washing dirty glasses and straightening things behind the bar in between orders. She let her eyes play down his slender but well-muscled body and found herself wondering what he looked like under the jeans she could just see the tops of. Looking away she forced herself to think about something different. She had a plan. Get her degree, though in what she wasn’t sure yet, make some decent money and stay as far away from her father as she could. The last thing Krissi needed was to get involved with a man, much less a biker.

She wondered about the Demented Souls. There had been men wearing the patch come into the diner a time or two, but she didn't know anything about them. The bartender moved to the far end of the bar to help the patron sitting there and Krissi used the opportunity to get a better look at him. Her eyes skimmed the bright tattoos covering the bartender's arms again as she looked him up and down. There was nothing there that made her think this club was like her dad's. None of his tattoos were the ones with specific meanings she'd learned from her dad’s club. No tear drops, no 1%, no gang affiliations that she recognized. Krissi had left her home to get away from the shadow of his club and didn't want to get involved with another group like them, not any time soon. Not ever.

“Can I get you something else?” the bartender asked as Krissi drained the last swallow from her Corona. She suspected he'd been keeping tabs on how much she had left to time the offer. Unsure how she'd missed him watching her when she'd been watching him so closely, she shrugged.

“I don't know.” She hesitated, checked her watch and sighed. “Sure, one more, then I've got to go.”

“Got somewhere you've got to be?” He pulled the bottle from the cooler and popped the top.

“Kinda,” she met his gaze. He had warm, honey colored eyes that made something deep inside her flip-flop.

“Kind of?” He lifted one brow and smiled.

Krissi shrugged again and made a face. “Homework.”

His smile spread to a grin. “Homework huh? What are you studying?”

“I'm not sure yet.” She ran one finger over the label on the bottle in her hand, wishing she had picked a brand with a stick-on label she could pick at to give her fingers something to do. “This is my first semester. I haven't figured out what I want to do yet.” She found herself telling him more than she should.

When she walked in she'd just wanted a drink or two to help her unwind after work. She'd chosen Drifters because the bikers would make her feel more at home. She didn't want to talk to anyone or tell anyone about herself. Something about this guy, though, made her more chatty than she'd intended.

“I've never seen you in here, you new to this side of town?” the bartender asked.

“I'm new to town period.” She couldn't help the wry smile that curved one half of her mouth. She might feel compelled to tell him more than she's intended but she wasn't telling anyone about her dad's club and why she'd come so far from home.

“Oh? Where are you from?”

“Albuquerque.” There. She hadn't lied but she hadn't said too much either.

“How long you been here?”

“A few months, long enough to find an apartment and a job.”

“And enroll in school.”

“And enroll in school.” She nodded and took another long pull from the beer in her hand.

“Have a rough day?” He seemed to be just being friendly but she couldn't be sure he wasn't fishing for more.

“Nothing I can't handle, but I can only take having my ass grabbed so many times before I need a drink.”

His eyes scanned up and down what part of her could see over the bar. “I can see why some would try but you don't seem to be the kind to put up with that. Why didn't you just slap them? Tell them hands off without permission?”

“’Cause it would cut into my tips. I have to pretend to be friendly and maybe even receptive or I get no tip, or worse, a big mess.”

“Sounds like you're working in the wrong place.”

She looked at her half full bottle. “Maybe, but it's what I've got and I can't quit unless I can find something else. There's not much else flexible enough to work around my class schedule.”

He watched her for a moment, silent. “That’s quite a problem.”

“Yeah, but it's my problem.” Krissi drained the last of the beer from her bottle. “Close me out.”

“No problem.” He turned, totaled her tab and ran her card. “I'm not sure you should be driving, though. How do you plan to get home?”

“No worries. I'm riding the bus. There's a stop not far from here.” She signed the ticket and tucked her card into her pocket.

“Come in any time, Krystal. We need more pretty faces like yours around.”

“I might.” She gave him one last smile and headed out the door.

The bus stop was a couple hundred feet away, so she walked over and sat down to wait the ten minutes until the next bus was due. She tried to focus on the paper she due in just a few hours but the tall bartender kept edging his way into her mind. His eyes, his voice, the corded muscles that moved under the brightly decorated skin of his arms. Krissi couldn't help but wonder if he had more tats and what they were. The squeal of brakes brought her back to the present. Her bus had arrived.

Standing, she made her way to the first open seat and tried to pay attention. She had to keep track of the stops or she'd end up passing her apartment building. Yesterday, she'd tried reading her textbook for the ride and had ended up a mile and a half past her stop. She'd walked all the way back, her feet already aching from her shift. This time, she was determined not to let anything distract her from getting off at the right stop. That walk wasn't something she wanted to have to do again.

Ruger watched as she left, her full, round ass swaying with every step. Man, he'd like to get his hands on that. His cock ached and for the first time in God knew how long, he knew no other piece of ass would cool the burn.

Shaking his head, Ruger went back to work. There was something about the girl and it wasn't the tight white shirt or nearly painted on black shorts that drew his attention. He couldn't put his finger on it though. He'd like to see her again but there was no reason to think she'd be back. Too bad he hadn't thought to ask where she worked or get anything more than her name. Krystal Montoya, her driver’s license and credit card had said. Montoya was a common enough name, though Krystal wasn't a common spelling. He might be able to run a check on her name, but how would he explain how he'd found her?

“Yo, bro. Give me another.” Stretch's voice from the end of the bar broke into Ruger's thoughts. He refilled the old man's mug and set it on the bar. “Who was she?” the old man asked before picking up the heavy glass and taking a long swallow.

“Some girl after a couple drinks,” Ruger said with a shrug.

“Bullshit, she wasn't just some girl.” The older man set his glass down with a thump.

“What makes you think so?”

“The way she acted.”

“What do you mean?”

“She was too comfortable. Most chicks walk in here, even on some guy’s arm, they're nervous, unsure. She wasn't. She walked in like she owned the place, sat down and ordered a drink. She looked the place over as if she was making sure things were the way they’re supposed to be.”

“So?”

“So, she took in the whole place, even that,” he jerked one thumb over his shoulder at the panties on the dart board, “and didn't even blink. To her, this place and all of us in were normal. There's something about that one, I'd keep an eye on her if I were you.”

Ruger shook his head. “She may not even come back. But if she does, I'll be careful, okay old man?”

Stretch watched him a moment, silent then nodded. “Just be careful. There's something off about her.”

A half dozen brothers came in, stopped at the bar and ordered drinks. Ruger went to fill their orders but thoughts of Krystal kept creeping into the back of his mind.

Through-out her classes the next day and her shift at the diner afterward, Krissi couldn't keep the tattooed bartender off her mind. The memory of his deep rumbling voice as he asked where she was from made her skin tingle. She tried not to think about him, to focus on her classes, then her job, but by the time her shift ended she couldn’t resist the urge had to stop at the bar again. The need to see him at least one more time was overwhelming. She didn’t have time for a relationship. Not while she worked on rebuilding her life, but what about a single night? Who would blame her for taking a little bit of pleasure where she could? Besides, while today hadn't been as rough as the day before but she could use a drink or two before heading home.

Her shift finally ended at eight. Business had been slow and she would have sworn she'd been on her feet for twenty hours instead of six. To add insult to injury, she had made a whopping eighteen dollars in tips today. Definitely not her best day. Krissi gathered her backpack full of books and walked the two blocks to the bar. She stood for a moment after pushing the door open and stepping inside. After several seconds, she saw a tall woman who looked to be probably sixty behind the bar, not the man she'd been looking for. Her shoulders fell.

“Krystal.” That familiar deep voice came from the other side of the room. Blinking, she turned, looking for the source of the voice. There, sitting at the table in the corner. But he wasn't alone. She hesitated to join him with others there, instead she went to the bar and slid onto the same stool she'd used the day before.

“What do you want?” The older woman's voice was rough from years of smoking.

Krissi took a deep breath and looked at the taps. “Give me an MGD.”

“I'm gonna need ID.” The bartender looked like she expected an argument from her. Krissi just handed her driver's license across the bar. The woman looked at it, then back at her as if double checking that the photo was really her.

“She's good, Marge.” The deep voice was beside her now. She knew it was the man she'd hoped to see, the one she still didn't have a name for. “I checked it good yesterday.”

Krissi turned and watched as he slid onto the stool beside her. He wore the same kutte he'd worn the day before with another white t-shirt and jeans. Without the bar in the way she could see he wore heavy leather boots like most people wore while riding. It fit. And it didn't help her libido. Her stomach flip-flopped and heat pooled low in her belly.

“If you say so, boss.” Marge passed Krissi's license back and went to pour the drink.

“Boss?” Krissi asked, turning back to the man sitting beside her.

“Yeah,” he shrugged. “I run the place.” He stared for a moment. “Another rough day, Krystal?”

She cringed at his use of her full name. “Actually, it's Krissi. And today wasn't too bad, other than being slow and taking for.ev.er.” She drew the word out.

“Krissi, huh? It fits you.” He reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear with the rest. Krissi turned her cheek toward his hand, wanting to lean closer but Marge set a frosty mug in front of her.

“That will be $3,” the older woman said.

“It's on the house.” The man in front of her said without breaking eye contact.

“If you say so, boss.” The old woman moved away to tend other patrons further down the bar.

“Thank you,” Krissi picked up the glass and took a sip, “for the drink. You know who I am, but I don't even know your name.”

“I'm Ruger.”

“Ruger?” She lifted one eyebrow. “Like a gun?”

“Yep.” He sat quietly, eyes on her, as if waiting for her to make the next move. She glanced around, not sure what to say. “So, if today wasn't as bad as yesterday, and you didn't want a drink or two to relax, why'd you come in?” He paused a moment. “I'm hoping it was to see me,” he said with a cocky grin.

Krissi pretended not to notice his grin and took a drink. “Seeing you might have been part of why I stopped.” She watched him through her lashes.

“Do you have plans for tonight?”

“Not really. I was going to study, but I don't have anything that must be turned in tonight. Why?”

“I was thinking about going for a ride, thought you might like to go.”

She took another drink while pretending to think about it. It had been months and she missed the feeling of watching the world slide by from the back of a bike.

“How do I know I can trust you?” She wasn't worried, she carried a folding knife in her pocket and a pistol in her backpack. Krissi knew it was illegal to bring it into a bar, but where was she going to leave it? It's not like she had a car to leave it in. She glanced around the room again. It didn't look like any of these guys expected the cops to show up and check either. She could see the outline of at least one pistol and she suspected a second as she looked around the room. Glancing at the man beside her. With a name like Ruger, chances were good he was carrying something too.

Ruger looked a little surprised at her question. “I'd never do anything you don't want done.” He met her gaze. “I may not be the best guy around but I've never hurt a woman, well, not one who didn't want it.” He grinned.

Krissi narrowed her eyes at him, letting him know she wasn't impressed with his lip.

“All right,” she said after a moment. She tipped her glass back and took a long swallow, it was more than half gone now. “You want to leave soon?”

“Whenever you're ready, sweetheart.” Ruger looked her up and down. “The clothes will do, but do you have any better shoes? We can swing by your place so you can change if you want.”

“I've got a pair of boots at home.” She took another drink. “I'd like to change clothes too though, if you don't mind. These smell like greasy food and coffee.”

“Whatever you like.” He watched as she drained her glass.

“All right, let's go.” She set her glass on the counter with a thump, stood and dug a couple of ones out of her pocket. Dropping them on the counter beside the empty glass she turned back to Ruger. “What?” she asked at his surprised look.

“Nothing.” Ruger shook his head and motioned for her to precede him to the door.

Outside Krissi found what little light there had been when she'd gone inside was gone. The sun had long since set and the only light left came from the street lights and the neon of storefront signs. Ruger led her to a shiny black Harley, she couldn't tell the model in the dark, but the long fork told her it was custom. She circled the bike for a moment, taking it in. She'd always felt you could tell a lot about a man from his bike. It was well cared for, custom but not flashy. This was a good sign. The chopper fork was longer than standard, but not one of those ten-foot-long jobs that screamed LOOK AT ME.

“Well, what do you think?” Ruger asked. She glanced at him and found he was watching her with one brow lifted. “Did she pass inspection?” There was the light sound of teasing in his voice.

“She passes.”

“Tell me what you see.” He tilted his head to one side as he watched her.

She told him her thoughts then ended with, “It tells me you're confident, secure in your place, not only in the club but in the world.” She met his gaze and waited for his reaction.

He nodded, then picked up his helmet off the seat. “Here, I only have the one with me, so you wear it.” He held it out toward her.

“Trusting to leave it unsecured.” She took it and slipped it on her head, fastening and fitting it with practiced ease.

“No one would touch it here. People around here know who we are and not to mess with our shit.” He swung one leg over the bike. “So where do you live?”

She gave him the address and waited while he kicked the bike to life. When he was ready, she climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso. He pulled out into the street and she was glad her borrowed helmet didn't have a facemask. The wind on her face and the rumble of the bike between her legs made all her troubles slide from her mind. What replaced them were thoughts of the thickly muscled thighs her own were wrapped around and the taught stomach beneath her hands.

As they moved through the city, the bike roaring down streets and rumbling content at traffic lights, Krissi caught hints of the scent of leather, soap and a warm musk that made heat build low in her belly. In under twenty minutes Ruger pulled into the small parking area in front of her apartment. It was faster than taking the bus, but she knew it would be. She would like a car but just didn't have the money for a one.

Right now, Krissi was saving every extra penny she could to cover her tuition and books until she got her degree. She really shouldn't have spent the money at the bar yesterday, much less stopped again today but she'd needed a break and today's drink hadn't cost her anything but a tip. She didn't indulge often so once in a while wasn’t a huge expense. Now, climbing off the back of Ruger's bike she was glad she'd spent the money. She hesitated to invite him inside while she changed but she didn't want to be rude.

“Why don't you go change, I'll wait here.” He seemed to sense her hesitation.

“You sure?” she asked, pulling the helmet off.

“Go.” He smiled. “Just don't leave me waiting too long.”

She handed him the helmet and to the stairs at the end of the building and took them two at a time. From the walkway at the top she waved at him before unlocking her door and ducking inside. The apartment was a tiny studio but it was cheap and all she needed. At the small closet, she grabbed her favorite pair of jeans, a tank top and her boots. Not bothering with the tiny bathroom, she changed right there, tossing her uniform over a nearby chair, then pulled a leather jacket from a hanger near the back of the closet. It was a little warm for the jacket but wouldn't be once they were moving, plus, leather was good protection should something happen.

Krissi hadn't worn the jacket since she'd gotten to Tucson. She hadn't wanted to. Now, though, it was perfect, no matter the memories attached. She'd make new memories, better ones.

Shrugging into the coat she tucked her ide, some cash and her keys into the inside pocket and headed back outside. She'd been inside only less than five minutes. Locking the door on her way out, she turned and looked down at where she'd left Ruger. He sat sideways on the bike, he looked comfortable and relaxed. Krissi froze for several seconds, just staring down at him. Several strands of hair had blown loose in the wind and they made her want to see it all down. Her hands ached to run through it and see if it was as soft as it looked. His long legs stretched in front of him, crossing at the ankles as he looked around, noticing everything that moved. As if sensing her eyes on him, Ruger looked up at where she stood. Her heart skipped a beat and she started moving again. Krissi wondered for a moment if he was going to be pissed she’d taken so long like her father or any of his men would be. She went to the steps and hurried down. Krissi couldn't wait to get back on the bike and on the road.

Ruger turned as she stepped off the stairs and watched her as she walked toward him. She saw his eyes skim down her body then back up again and her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest and hop away, but it didn’t. Krissi fought the urge to giggle like an idiot, biting the inside of her lip to keep her mouth shut.

“Oh, you changed everything. That was fast. It's also a lot better for a ride.” He handed her the helmet and climbed back onto the bike while she settled it onto her head and tightened the chin strap. Ruger's eyes skimmed her again. “You might want to close the jacket.” He kick-started the bike.

Krissi looked down and thought about zipping the coat, but decided Ruger would block the worst of what was coming from the front and left it. Ruger jerked his head, letting her know he was ready for her to get on. Once she was seated, he walked the bike back out of the parking space and they roared from the lot.

Ruger couldn’t remember the last time he’d liked a girl enough to let her on the back of his bike for more than a quick ride home. But for some reason, he wanted Krissi there. He liked the feel of her behind him, her arms around him as the wind beat through is hair. The rumble of the bike beneath him made him happy and peaceful, and after a few minutes they were on their way out of town. He wanted to show Krissi something. She said she'd only recently moved to the area and since she was riding the bus, he could be fairly certain she hadn't seen this yet.

He took a familiar road, but resisted the urge to push past the speed limit. It was dark and the road could be tricky even in the day light. The last thing he wanted was to frighten Krissi, so he played it safe. After a few minutes, he could tell she was no novice at riding the back of a bike. She hadn't said much about her past and he didn't know where she'd learned to ride so well but she leaned into the turns as of it was second nature. Her arms held on but not tight enough to make him think she was scared and they never tightened, no matter how low they leaned on a turn. She moved with him as if they'd been riding together for years.

Ruger wasn't sure how long they'd been riding, maybe half an hour or forty-five minutes, when he found the spot he was after. He pulled off the highway onto a small parking area and killed the engine. Krissi moved smoothly as she climbed off the seat behind him and walked around the small area, stretching her legs as she took the helmet off.

“Wow.” She stopped in her tracks, her gaze glued on the lights scattered beneath them. Climbing off the bike Ruger stepped up behind her, close enough to feel the heat of her body, but stopped short of touching her. Reaching down, he lifted the helmet from her hand and hung it by the chin strap on one handlebar of the bike.

“You said you were new around here. I thought it was a pretty safe bet you'd not been up here yet.”

“Where are we?” Krissi’s voice was soft, as if she didn't want to disturb the quiet night.

“Mt Lemmon.”

“That's the one on the northeast side of town, right?”

“Yeah.”

They stood in silence for few minutes then Krissi turned to face him. He felt her hands against his chest, then sliding to the side. He took her wrist and slid her hand down to his waist before she got to the pistol that hung under his left arm. He slid his hand along her arm to the elbow then around her back. Tilting his head down, he met hers as she stretched up toward him.

“This is beautiful. Thank you,” she breathed, just before her mouth met his. Her lips brushed against his, sending sparks of heat through him. Krissi grew bolder and her lips parted beneath his and his arm not around her waist came up to cup her cheek. Her fingers curled against his lower back and her arms tightened around him, as her lips parted against his. Ruger slipped one leg between her thighs. Krissi groaned arched against him, Ruger felt her nipples tighten into tight beads against his chest. His breath caught, and heart sped. Her light scent reminded him of small purple flowers. His tongue dueled with hers as they stood in the night, wrapped up in each other.

A cool wind blew down their collars, sending a shiver through Krissi. Ruger pulled back and gazed down at her with passion filled eyes, he tried to catch his breath as he caught the glint of light in her dark eyes.

“Cold?”

“Not really.” She looked over her shoulder at the city below and bit her lip making Ruger wonder what she was thinking. “But why don't we head back to town. I'd like to get you better, somewhere more comfortable.” She turned her attention back to him, her lips parted and Ruger wanted to kiss her again but held back. His dick stirred and his jeans were suddenly tighter. He liked the idea that she might want to take what they'd been doing here back to town.

“You wanna got to Drifters or back to your place?”

“We could go to the bar for a while. A little dancing might be fun.” She wrapped her arm around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He looked down at her. Usually he didn't want his pussy to get too attached, but he liked the feel of her against him. They climbed back on the bike and made their way back down the mountain.

Krissi wondered again if she was doing the right thing as Ruger pulled the bike to a stop in front of the bar. She knew getting involved with another motorcycle club wasn't the best idea. But one night wasn’t involved, was it? After he stopped, Krissi dismounted and stood to one side as he walked the bike backward into position with the others, then climbed off. She handed him the helmet, which he put back on seat where it had been. He dropped one hand on the small of her back and guided her inside.

The bar looked like a totally different place this time. The atmosphere hadn't changed but the crowd had. Someone had turned up the jukebox. Now rock music blasted through the place while half-dressed women wandered around, dancing between tables and over some of the men. If she hadn't grown up around a motorcycle club, she would have thought this was a strip club. But this was tame compared to what she'd seen since she was old enough to sneak away from whoever had babysitting duty. She'd had a full education before she'd turned thirteen.

Glancing around the bar Krissi found an empty table near the back and headed in that direction.

“What do you want to drink?” Ruger bent low and asked in her ear.

“Whatever.” She shrugged, squeezing his hand before leaving him beside the bar and going to the table. She'd sat down and was waiting for Ruger to join her when a man sat down beside her. There were tattoos snaking up his neck and covering the backs of his hands.

“Hey, sweetheart.” He leaned close.

Krissi glanced at him, he looked a few years older than Ruger. He grinned at her as he waited for her to say something. She didn't bother, instead, she turned and looked for Ruger. He was headed in her direction a scowl marring his forehead. It took her a moment to realize he wasn't frowning at her.

Ruger got to the table, set a mug down in front of her and looked at the other man. “Shove off, Sadist.”

Krissi turned and looked at the man who'd invited himself to beside her.

“I don't know,” he grinned. “She's pretty cute. I think she likes me.”

It took Krissi a moment to realize that they were friends and the new guy, Sadist if she heard right, was teasing Ruger. She looked back to Ruger. He hooked one foot on the leg of a chair and dragged it back so he could sit. Once he was seated, Kristi scooted her chair closer to him, close enough he could drop one arm along the back of her seat, lean down and give her a deep kiss. He was staking claim, and at least for now, she didn't mind. Once Ruger pulled she away took a drink, MGD like she'd ordered earlier, and looked across the table at the other man.

“Sadist huh? Do I want to ask?”

Sadist grinned. “I make my living hurting people. And I enjoy it.”

“Hurting people?”

“Sadist is a tattoo artist.” Ruger said next to her ear, his voice low and breathy. Krissi took a closer look at the tattoos covering his arms and hands. They were well done and well thought out. It wasn't just a jumble of unrelated images.

“Oh, nice.” She let her eyes skim his arms again. “You do any of your own?”

“A couple pieces, but nothing recently.” His eyes skimmed down her body. “You got any art?”

“No. I've never found anything I like well enough to wear for the rest of my life.”

“Well, when you do, I'd love to get my needle into you.” He gave her a lascivious look. Ruger growled.

“Like I said. Shove off, Sadist.” The other man just laughed, he looked her up and down then spoke.

“So, where you from?”

“Not here.” Ruger said, keeping his answer short. Ruger seemed to be getting annoyed but not angry

“No shit.” Sadist looked at him for just a second then turned back to Krissi. “You walked in here and didn't bat an eye at all this,” he made a sweeping gesture with one hand. “You're not from around here but you've seen this before.” He spoke like he was sure.

“I’ve spent some time around a club before.” She shrugged one shoulder.

Sadist leaned to one side and looked her up and down. “You don’t look like fender fluff.”

Krissi narrowed her eyes at Ruger’s friend and considered how to respond for a second. The man had just called her a whore who chased bikers. “That’s your one freebie, and I only allow it because you don’t know me. Insult me again and you’ll find yourself on your ass. And don’t think I can’t just because you’re bigger. I know my limitations and I don’t fight fair.” Sadist leaned back in his chair and watched her for several seconds but let the subject drop.

They stayed in the bar for about an hour with Ruger occasionally pulling her to her feet, using the excuse of a dance to get her away from Sadist and hold her close. After the second time he dragged her to the tiny open space he was using for a dance floor, he pulled her down on his lap instead of letting her have her own chair. She leaned down and kissed him again, briefly as she was aware of everyone around her and didn’t want to be insulted again tonight. His hand rested on her knee and Krissi was intensely aware of his heat seeping through her jeans. It didn’t take an hour for Krissi to be ready to move on. She dropped one hand to his leg beside her ass and let her hand skim up his leg, stopping just short of his crotch. He looked down at her and she grinned. “Let's get out of here.”

It annoyed Ruger when he turned from getting drinks for Krissi and himself and found Sadist sitting next to her. Ruger had no doubt his friend had seen them come in together and now he was being a pain in the ass. Frowning at the other man, he went to the table. The bastard didn't even notice Ruger's disapproval though because he was too busy grinning at Krissi. When he reached the table, Ruger set Krissi's drink in front of her.

“Shove off, Sadist,” he said. Krissi turned her attention to Ruger as he came up beside her.

“I don't know,” the grin on Sadist's face let Ruger know he was playing and finding himself extremely amusing. “She's pretty cute. I think she likes me.”

Ruger used one foot to pull a chair away from the table so he could sit. Once he was seated, Krissi scooted her chair closer to his. Ruger waited until she was settled again, then lowered his mouth to hers for a hard kiss. He only did it to stake a claim but she didn't seem to mind. Sadist met is gaze and nodded once. Satisfaction spread through him as his friend had told him he wouldn't be poaching, at least not until Ruger decided he was done. He would stop others from trying, too. Not that Ruger thought Krissi was the kind to be a club whore and be passed around from brother to brother.

He left his arm along the back of her chair while Krissi talked to Sadist for a bit. He put things in here and there but he was paying as much attention to the rest of the room as he was to the pair at his table. It looked like a typical evening in Drifters. A couple of the club whores were going to have to be warned about lap dances in the bar. If they wanted to act like strippers, that was fine, but they should keep it in the clubhouse. He didn't want to put his liquor license at risk. Since they were customers and not employees he should be okay but all it would take was one uptight inspector to shut him down.

The crowd that nearly filled Drifters was mostly club members and prospects, a few hangers on and a couple people who lived in the area and spent most of their time in the bar. It became obvious that Sadist had no intention of letting them be, so Ruger stood and Krissi onto the makeshift dance floor to get a little more one on one time with her. When he refilled Krissi’s drink, he grabbed himself a bottle of water. He had no intention of taking her to the room he kept in the clubhouse next door and he never got on the road, whether behind the wheel or on his bike, after more than a single. He'd seen too many men, good and bad, die that way.

After the last dance, instead of letting her go back to her own chair he pulled her down into his lap. She wiggled a little several times as if not entirely comfortable. He left his hand on her knee as they continued to chat with Sadist, and he was acutely aware of the heat of her body through the denim she wore. Krissi shifted on his knee again, her hand came to rest on his thigh beside where she sat. After a moment, her hand began inching up his leg, ever so slowly at first, then a little faster. Her fingers drew abstract designs on his jeans as they made their way closer to his cock. He was rock hard by the time she stopped and turned to him. She glanced down at her hand, still in his lap, and grinned.

“Let's get out of here,” she said.

It was all Ruger could do not to jump to his feet, flinging his chair across the room with the momentum. He glanced across the table at Sadist and saw the amused glint in his eye. Sadist knew what was going on.

Ruger dropped a light kiss on the tip of Krissi's nose.

“Sure.” He stood, shifting in his jeans as he went. “I'll catch you later,” he said to Sadist, then put his hand on Krissi's back and followed her out. At his bike, he handed her his helmet. “You have classes or work in the morning?”

“Tomorrow's Saturday, no classes. And my shift doesn't start until two. Why?” She manipulated the strap under her chin with practiced ease.

“I just wanted to know if we should go to your place or mine.”

“Don't I get a say?” She blinked up at him, her words challenging but not her tone.

“You already had your say when you all but felt me up in there.” He lowered his head to cover her mouth in another deep kiss. Breaking away, he got on his bike and started it. “Come on.” Ruger waited while she climbed on behind him then kicked the bike into motion and they took off into the night.

The familiar trip seemed to take three times what it should have but soon Ruger slowed and pulled into his driveway. He hit a button he'd fastened to the handlebars and waited while the garage door opened, then eased the bike in, and parking beside his pickup as the garage door lowered behind them. After killing the engine, he waited for Krissi to dismount then climbed off himself. She handed him the helmet, he put it on the seat and turned to look at her. She looked nervous. He bent and gave her a quick kiss to distract her.

“Come on in, I'll show you around.” What Ruger wanted to do was to toss her over his shoulder, carry her inside, toss her on the bed and screw her brains out but she wasn’t quite ready for that.

He unlocked the door to the house and led her inside.

“This is the laundry room, not the most inviting room to start off with, but it's necessary. Besides, I'm not parking my bike outside.” He waited for her to come inside before locking the door out to the garage, then leading her out the opposite door to the next room. “This is the kitchen. I’m not much for cooking so you might not find much to eat but there's beer and sodas in the fridge, help yourself.” He shrugged out of his kutte and took her jacket, leaving them draped across the kitchen table.

Ruger continued the tour, showing her through the house until they reached his bedroom. It wasn’t that he was hinting at anything, she'd all but said she wanted to fuck him. Any doubt he had left when she'd nearly grabbed his dick in the bar. He let Krissi look around a bit while he unbuckled his belt and pulled it free from his jeans and shoulder holster then set it on top of the dresser. Shrugging out of the shoulder straps, he slipped the weapon off and hung the holster on a hook rack next to the dresser where he kept it, then pulled the pistol free and put it in the nightstand drawer.

“It's not what I expected,” Krissi said looking around, eyes wide.

“What did you expect? Empty pizza boxes and beer cans?”

She turned and faced him, one side of her mouth turned up in a wry smile. “Pretty much. A good TV and video game set up, with a folding chair or maybe a bean bag in front. Mattress on the bedroom floor. You know, typical bachelor pad stuff.”

Ruger shook his head and chuckled. “A few years ago, that's exactly what you would have found but I got tired of living like a rat. I decided I wanted someplace I could relax and be comfortable. I'll admit I have a decent TV and sound system, but I'm not much for video games. I’d rather watch movies.” He took her hand and led her back into the living room where they could sit down and get to know each other a little until she was ready for more. “Have a seat,” he invited before going to the kitchen and pulling out a couple of beers from the fridge. Opening them both, he dropped the tops in the trash and carried them to her. “Here.” He sat beside her and took a long pull from his bottle. “You liking Tucson?”

She took a drink from her own bottle, then glanced around the room. “It's all right.”

“Not too hot for you?”

“It's a little warmer than I'm used to, but it's not that bad.”

He watched her a moment, thinking about her words. He narrowed his eyes. “That means you're either from somewhere in the southwest. I'm guessing New Mexico, Arizona, or Florida.”

“Florida? That's not southwest.” She frowned, confused.

“No, but it's hot there too. Some of the rest of the south is hot too, but like Texas, there's an accent that would give you away.”

A ghost of a smile curved her lips and she looked away. “I'm from New Mexico.”

“Well, if you’re not from one of the mountain areas, or too far north, then Tucson won’t be too much different.” The way she hedged her answers and looked away told him that she was telling the truth, but at the same time, hiding something. He didn't push. He wanted Krissi to trust him with whatever it was, but sensed he'd need to earn that trust. “It's good though because the first summer here can be rough for someone not accustomed to the heat. Even people from Florida have it hard here because it's dry and they don't realize their losing as much moisture as they are.”

“I'm used to the dry heat. I know the rule, drink even when you're not thirsty, and even more when you're out in it.” She tipped her head back and he saw a thin, line of a scar just under the tip of her chin. “That's what happens when you don't get enough water.”

“What did you do?” Ruger lifted one hand and ran his thumb along the soft line of her skin before it occurred to him she might be sensitive about it, but if she were, why had she shown him?

“I was working outside in the summer and didn't drink enough. I ended up with heat exhaustion. I passed out and split my chin open. I got a total of twelve stitches, four on the inside, eight on the outside and I chipped two teeth. I'm much more careful about making sure I have enough to drink since then.”

“When did you do this?” he knew it wasn't recent, the scar was white and well healed not pink and new.

“A few years ago. I don't even feel it anymore but I remember it.”

“I bet.” He let his eyes play over her, taking in every line and curve. The scar over her eye and the freckle next to one corner of her mouth, they weren't flaws, they were marks of character and only served to enhance her looks. He ran the pad of one thumb down her jaw. “Looks like you're doing just fine in the heat.”

She turned her head and captured his thumb between her teeth. “I do okay,” she said around the digit.

He cocked one brow and waited. The tip of her tongue swirled around the end of his thumb as she watched him for a reaction.

“As pretty as that is, I had other plans for both my finger and your mouth.”

Krissi’s eyes darkened as she closed her lips around the digit and sucked a moment before releasing it. “I hope those plans include getting naked.” A sly smile curved her lips.

Ruger let his eyes skim down her body. “They do.”

“I like the way you think.” Krissi went up on her knees beside him, and leaned over to lower her mouth to his.

Ruger let her control the kiss. He wanted to see how aggressive she would be and how far she would go to get what she wanted. The kiss deepened and Krissi leaned closer. She shifted her weight and Ruger set one hand on her waist so he was ready in case she lost her balance. Her hands went to his shoulders and she steadied herself as she moved, never breaking the kiss. He groaned as her weight settled astride his lap and her hands smoothed down his chest. He fought the urge to run his hands up under her shirt, but he was letting her control their speed, for now.

She pulled away, sitting back on her heels and tugged at his shirt. “Off.”

“As you wish.” Ruger leaned forward enough to reach behind his head and grab a handful of shirt, then tugged it off over his head. Tossing it aside, he realized Krissi hadn't been idle. She was sitting on his lap wearing only her pants and a white lace bra. He let his gaze play over her newly exposed skin as he waited to see what she would do next. His skin on the palms of his hands itched to touch her but he remained where he was.

Her hands slid down his chest and she leaned forward to run her tongue along his bottom lip. Moving her hands up and over his shoulders she settled her mouth over his where he let her coax his lips apart. Her hands on his back curled and pulled him closer.

Ruger let his hands rest on her thighs, then slowly slid them upwards, running them lightly over her back and around to her stomach. Inching upward he let his hands come up to cover her lace cupped breasts.

Krissi’s hands snaked up his neck and her fingers tugged the band from his hair, freeing it to fall around his shoulders. Her fingers pushed into his hair, nails scraped along his scalp sending bolts of fire down his spine. When she arched her back, he pushed her bra up and held her naked tits in his hands. Her nipples were tight little berries against his palms. Ruger wanted to unbutton her jeans and shove his hand inside and find out if she wore panties, but he waited. Instead he kneaded the soft flesh, tweaking her nipples and drawing them to hard buttons.

Her mouth still against his, Krissi bit his lower lip and moaned. Breaking the kiss, she trailed kisses along the side of his neck, licking and nipping his skin with her teeth. Her nails gazed his nipples and he tensed momentarily. Krissi scooted her ass back on his lap until she could lick and bite at one nipple, Ruger’s hands slid up her back and he let them rest on her shoulders. He wanted to feel that sweet, hot mouth on his cock, to feel her warm, tight pussy surrounding him but not yet. Not yet. Sliding his hands around, he cupped her tits, teasing her tight, sensitive nipples while she played with his.

She sat up again, moving closer to kiss him again. His hands fell to her waistband, fingers sliding beneath the heavy fabric in the back of her jeans.

“Wait.” Krissi pulled away. “We need something.”

“What?”

“Where's my jacket?”

“In the kitchen, why?”

“We need a condom.”

He shifted, lifting her with him as he lifted his hips, moving as if she weighed nothing and pulled a foil square from his pocket. He dropped the packet on his lap between them.

She glanced down at the package then back to his face. “You always carry that or were you just hoping to get lucky tonight?”

“I gave up carrying all the time some time ago, but I pocketed a couple from a stash I keep behind the bar for my brothers.” He kept his eyes on her face as he gave her a halfhearted grin. “I was encouraged when you showed up again tonight, and hopeful when you agreed to go for a ride.”

Still watching him, Krissi reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. Tossing it aside, she picked up the packet and put it on the couch beside his leg. She moved backwards off his lap and reached for the button of his jeans.

He let her unbutton his jeans and lifted his ass so she could work the stiff fabric down his hips, taking his underwear with them. Ruger stopped her before she got his jeans to his knees and kicked off his boots then kicked his jeans off and aside. Krissi knelt and wrapped her hand around his erect cock, squeezing gently. She looked up at him through the lace of her lashes as she picked the condom up, ripped the package open and unrolled it over him. Keeping her eyes on him, she leaned forward and ran the tip of her tongue along the underside.

Ruger groaned and tensed, watching as she moved off his lap and kicked her shoes off, then unbuttoned her own jeans and started shoving them off. It couldn’t have been easy the way she was bent over, her mouth still lavishing attention on his dick. Krissi’s tongue swirled around the tip and he wanted to bury his hands in her hair and make her take the whole thing in her mouth. Instead he clenched his fists and forced himself not to move.

Krissi dipped her mouth over the tip of his cock and braced her hands on his thighs while she finished kicking her jeans off. Unable to deny the urge any longer, Ruger closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the sofa as the warmth surrounded his dick.

The heat of her mouth disappeared and Ruger looked up to find her standing in front of him, naked. She'd pushed the strings of her panties off her hips. He let his eyes skim down her body, taking in her full breasts, the taper of her waist and her generous round ass, perfect for holding on to while he fucked her.

“What are you waiting for?” He lifted one brow.

Krissi gave him a predatory smile.

“An invitation.” She crawled back astride him stopping just shy of his cock. She looked down into his face as she knelt above him, her eyes sparkling. “Touch me.” Picking up one of his hands, she brought it up to her tit and squeezed it against her flesh. Her skin was soft and full against his hand

“I can do that.” Ruger glanced down at her body then back to her eyes. “How much do you want?” He squeezed her boob, knowing he was being a little rough. Ruger was aware she might not understand the words alone, but he needed to know how rough he could be and how much she would enjoy. Hurting women didn't get him off, but sometimes a little pain mixed with pleasure only made the pleasure more intense and her teeth play so far made him believe Krissi might like things less than vanilla.

“A lot. I'll say something if it's too much for me.” Krissi leaned in and bit his lower lip. Krissi swiveled her hips until her opening was lined up with his cock, then slowly lowered herself onto him.

Ruger arched his back and groaned as he rolled her nipples between his fingers and thumbs. He fought the urge to thrust his hips and bury himself deep inside her. Instead, he kept his hands where they were, and toyed with her full, round tits while he let her continue to slowly sink down over him, as she used her weight to press him deeper. Krissi scraped her nails along his skin. The intense sensations made him shiver. Slowly, she lifted herself until just the tip of his cock remained inside her then sank down over him again, this time faster, the momentum and moisture drove him deeper. His hands unconsciously squeezed and kneaded the mounds that more than filled them.

Krissi broke the kiss and threw her head back, groaning. Her back arched, thrusting her chest outward. Unable to resist the temptation being bouncing in his face, Ruger pushed his face between her breasts for a moment then, taking a deep breath for a moment before capturing one nipple in his mouth. Still squeezing the mounds, he tormented the sensitive tip with his tongue, then bit down. Her body clamped around his cock, squeezing him tight as she screamed her orgasm, but she never stopped moving. She continued lifting herself off him and sinking back down.

Sliding his hands down, he gripped her waist and thrust deep inside her, reveling in the heat squeezing around his cock. Releasing the first nipple, he captured her other with his mouth. He played gently with the sensitive tip for a moment but temptation was too strong. Nipping and sucking he pulled as much of her breast into his mouth as he could while still thrusting hard into her. Her body tensed and seized as she came again, this time he let go of the control he'd held on his release. Biting down, he had just enough presence of mind to stop short of breaking the skin as fire raced up his spine and he found nirvana.

Krissi collapsed against him, letting her head fall to his shoulder as they both gasped for breath.

After several moments, Krissi pushed herself upright and lifted herself off him as she stood. She glanced around, looking for something. Realizing she was looking for a way to clean up, Ruger stood, placed one hand low on her back, and steered her toward his bedroom. “Come on, there’s a bathroom in here.”

He let her use master bath while he used the one in the hall to dispose of the condom and wash his hands, then reentered in the bedroom as she emerged.

“Oooh, ouch.” Ruger stepped close and gently lifted the breast he'd bitten earlier and took a good look at the dark impression of his teeth. “That was harder than I intended.” He looked up at her face. “You alright, or was I too rough?”

“I told you I'd let you know if it was too much, did you hear me say stop?” She cocked her hips to one side and put one hand on the out turned hip. The gesture would have been more aggressive and far less of a turn on if she’d been wearing clothes.

“I didn't, but I was so far gone by then I can't be certain you didn't say something.” He looked at the marks again. “This is going to bruise, and probably pretty badly. You sure you're okay with it?” The sight of her standing in his bedroom stark ass naked with her hand on her hip giving him sass made his cock stir again.

“As long as the sex is good and I didn't tell you to stop, a few bruises are no big deal. They serve as sweet reminders of how much fun I had.” Her eyes flicked down his body and she took a step closer. Reaching down between his legs she caressed his balls before sliding her hand up his now hard shaft. “Looks like someone likes seeing your marks on my body.”

Ruger growled deep in his throat and pulled her close. “I do, but I'd rather leave them there on purpose.” He captured her mouth in a scorching kiss. “You want more or would you rather sleep some?”

“What do you think?” She gave him a coy smile and squeezed his cock again.

Krissi woke the next morning to comforting heat surrounding her. Confusion clouded her mind for several long seconds until she realized Ruger was still curled around her, holding her against him. She never would have guessed he was a snuggler, but now, with the long length of his erection nestled against her ass while one hand cupped her tit he would have a hard time denying it. She took a deep breath and exhaled as contentment washed through her. Unwilling to resist the urge, she wiggled against him, burying herself deeper in his arms as she closed her eyes once more. She didn’t have to be anywhere this morning and with no urgent homework, she was going to get a little more sleep. Besides, she reasoned, he'd woken her twice during the night and she'd woken him once herself. There hadn’t been much sleep for either of them during the previous hours, so why not get a little more now. The cock that lay between the cheeks of her ass twitched. She couldn't resist the urge to wiggle her butt back against it. The hand on her boob flexed, squeezing the soft flesh. Krissi smiled. She wasn't the only one awake.

“How you feeling this morning?” The low rumble of Ruger's voice in her ear made heat pool in her core. A low groan escaped her throat as she moved against him again. His cock got impossibly harder and his fingers twisted and tugged gently at her nipple. “You up for another round or are you too sore?”

“More.” The word was barely more than a breath, but he heard it. Her breast throbbed and there was a soft ache between her thighs but Krissi didn't care. This man made her feel things she'd never felt before, with anyone and she wanted more. She wasn’t totally inexperienced with men and sex. Anyone who spent time around her father's club gained at least second hand knowledge, but only the bravest of them were willing to risk her father's wrath to approach her. For a while that had pissed her off, but she'd quickly learned that her father's club wasn't the only place to find a guy, and not to bring any guy she was involved with around the club or he would soon be as intimidated as the ones already there.

Ruger's fingers sliding down her body, away from the breast they'd been hugging when she woke, pulled her back to the moment. His hand skimmed over her belly and down between her legs. Easily, the thick digits slipped between her lower lips where they tweaked and pinched the sensitive bundle of nerves hiding there. Heat raced through her and all coherent thought fled from her mind She arched her back and groaned, pushing her ass back against him, squirming with the need to feel him inside her. The rough stubble on his face scraped along her neck as he buried his face in the curve there, a sharp sting told he had a bit of her skin between his teeth. He bit just strong enough to penetrate the haze of pleasure that clouded her mind.

“Yes.” She tried to speak but it came out as barely more than a whisper. Her body couldn’t settle on a sensation, and instead told her brain it was feeling them all. Heat. Cold. Pain. Pleasure. Ruger kept touching her, caressing, squeezing, rubbing, squeezing. Everything was so intense. Heat raced through her body. Krissi lost control of her muscles and movements. The way Ruger made her feel, she didn't need control, she didn’t want it. He made her want things she'd never wanted, never needed before.

The pale pink light streaming in the window didn't matter anymore only the feelings racing through her body. Ruger moved behind her, pulling away then coming back. His hands tugged her close to him again, his cock slipped inside her, filling her. Like when they came together during the night, he filled her, hitting that spot deep inside no one had ever hit before him. In moments, Krissi was screaming, pleasure racing through her body, making her fingers curl and toes numb. Her feet and ankles followed. Ruger continued thrusting inside her and the orgasms kept coming. Krissi wasn't sure the pleasure would ever end and she didn't want it to. How did he know just how to touch her, where to kiss, to send her to the highest peaks of ecstasy? Her body tightened and Krissi cried his name as wave after wave of pleasure washed through her.

Ruger’s hands moved to her hips, his grip tightened as he increased the pace of his thrusts. It didn't take long before she was coming again, the peak of her orgasm had barely passed when another washed over her. She clawed at the sheet then reached back, needing to touch him. One hand found his wrist and she held on for dear life. His fingers on her hip tightened and she felt him come. After a moment, he relaxed against her, dropping light kisses on the curve of her neck. With a deep breath, he rolled away, pulling out of her in the process. A shiver ran through her body at the loss of his warmth. Water ran in the bathroom, then he was back, pulling her close once more. She closed her eyes, relaxed and let sleep over take her again.

Movement woke her. The arms around her were gone. Krissi rolled over and watched as Ruger disappeared into the bathroom. Grabbing his pillow, she pulled it close, hugging it to her chest while she waited for him to come out. She could get up, but her clothes were still in the living room. The shower turned on and she closed her eyes, listening until the water turned off again. Krissi lay in the bed, watching the bathroom door when it opened and a puff of steam escaped, with Ruger close behind. He was naked and rubbing a towel through his hair, water droplets scattered on his upper body. Desire raced through her body and heat pooled between her legs making the dull ache turn to a throb, reminding her she’d had more sex in the last twelve hours than in the last six months.

“You're awake.” He smiled down at her.

“Yeah, I missed you.”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.”

She rolled and stretched, letting the sheet slip off her breasts as she moved. A low growl made her glance back at him. “What?”

“You're tempting but I'm starving and you’ve got to be too. Besides, after last night you're probably a least a little sore. Why don't you take a hot shower to help with that while I go start some breakfast?”

“You cook?” The question was out before Krissi was aware she’d even thought it. Her father had never cooked, never. He always waited on her mother or someone else to cook for him, as had most of the men she’d dated in the past.

Ruger looked her with one corner of his mouth lifted. “I gotta eat, and restaurants, even the good ones, get old after a while.” Opening drawers on the chest in the corner, he pulled out a pair of black gym shorts, and tossed them on the foot of the bed. Then came a black t-shirt that joined the shorts. “You can wear those if you like.” Ruger grabbed a pair of jeans from the arm of a chair and pulled them on. He zipped them but left the button undone. “Come into the kitchen when you're ready, depending on how long you take, I may even have breakfast ready.” His eyes raked over her once more and for a second he looked like he might crawl back into bed with her, then he shook his head, turned, and left the room.

Krissi sighed, taking a second to just enjoy the moment, then threw the covers back, got up and went into the bathroom. She winced at the ache between her thighs as it sharpened to a dull throb as she moved. Still worth it, she thought turning on the water. Hot water streamed over her and she let the heat melt away some of her soreness. There was no way the water all her aches away, but it helped tense muscles relax and that was amazing.

Picking up his shampoo bottle, she sniffed it, wondering if possibly this was part of the scent that drew her. Nope, it was just a light, clean scent, not part of the leather and male she got from his skin. Krissi hurried and finish her hair then turned off the water.

After drying off, Krissi put on the clothes Ruger had left for her. The shorts fit okay, but the shirt stretched tight over her boobs and every movement made the soft cloth move against her sensitive nipples. The one he’d bitten sent bolts of awareness every time the shirt rubbed across her bruised skin, making her smile. She looked down, wondering if he would notice. Did it matter if he did? He was the reason they were so sensitive to begin with.

The scent of food made her stomach rumble. Shrugging off caring if the man she'd spend the night naked with could see the outline of her nipples, she went in search of food. She found Ruger in the kitchen, standing in front of the stove with several skillets on top.

“That was quick,” Ruger barely glanced at Krissi as she stepped into the room. “There's coffee in the pot over there if you drink it.” He motioned to the far counter. “Milk’s in the fridge if you want cream.”

“Ran out of hot water.,” Krissi kept an eye on him while she fixed herself a cup of coffee. She leaned back against the counter sipping the steaming nectar of life while she watched the muscles of his back move and play under his skin while he cooked. For someone with tattoos up and down both arms, she was surprised to find his back a blank slate. She'd finished her first cup and had just poured herself a second when Ruger spoke.

“Can you hand me a couple of plates from that cabinet?” He pointed to cupboard near the sink.

She retrieved the dishes and took them to him.

“Thanks.” Ruger set them on the counter and started dishing out food. After a moment, he picked them both up and carried them to the bar. “Have a seat.” He pulled a pair of forks from the drawer and set one on each plate. Krissi took her coffee and sat in one of the two stools on the other side of the bar. She watched as Ruger picked up his cup from next to the stove, refilled it and came to sit next to her.

“Wow,” she looked at her plate for the first time. “You must be hungry.”

“I am.” He picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. “But I didn't know what you like, so I made a little of everything.”

Her stomach growled and she looked at the plate again, maybe he hadn't made too much after all.

After breakfast Krissi changed into her own her own clothes, but not before Ruger showed her just how much he liked seeing his shirt stretched tight across her tits. After she was dressed she wasn't sure what came next. Normally, she would just leave, catch a bus or call a cab, but he had brought her and she was pretty sure there was no bus route out this far. She was almost ready to suck it up and ask him to take her home when he pulled her close and dropped a kiss on her nose.

“Wanna go for a ride before I take you home?”

She looked up at him and couldn't stop the rush of heat that washed through her. All the tension and uncertainty disappeared.

“Sounds good.”

Ruger could tell something was wrong before he'd offered the ride and trip home, but whatever it was seemed to disappear as soon as he offered. He wondered about it for a few minutes then dismissed it. They got on the bike and Ruger started out. He drove away from town at first. Ruger had no real destination in mind. The whole point was the ride. It was a nice day and Ruger could think of nothing better than wind on his face and the woman pressed against his back.

Once they were well away from the few houses near his and on the highway though the desert, Ruger twisted the throttle until they were doing almost 80. This road didn't get much traffic, so it didn't warrant much of a police presence and there was little risk of getting pulled over. They cruised for a while, until Krissi tapped him on the shoulder. His extra helmet wasn't equipped with an intercom so he pulled on to the shoulder and killed the engine.

“What's up?” he asked after pulling off his helmet.

“I was curious where we are. I don't recognize anything.” Krissi tugged her helmet off and leaned over to look over his shoulder.

“You know the mountains on the west side of town?”

“The ones on the far side of the interstate? Yeah.”

“We're on the other side of those.”

“Oh. I've never been out here, it's pretty, but kind of isolated.” She stared out at the desert around them.

“There are a couple of different routes, but we're only about a half hour from your apartment. Are you needing to get back?”

“No, I just wanted to know where we are. I kind of got turned around last night and lost track.”

“All right.” Ruger started to put his helmet back on, then stopped and twisted around to look at her. “You said you've never been out here. Have you been to Old Tucson?”

“What's that?” A frown creased her forehead as she squinted in the sunlight.

“An old western movie set turned tourist attraction, want to go?” He knew he should just take her home and be done with her, but he was enjoying being with her, even when they weren't in bed.

“I don't know...” she trailed off.

“Come on, it will be fun. My treat.” Ruger waited while she seemed to fight some inner battle, but after a few seconds she spoke.

“All right, let's go.”

Krissi didn't know how long they were on the road since she had agreed to go to this movie place, but it seemed like no time at all. Partly because she was distracted by the rumble of the bike and the heat coming from Ruger. Not that she wasn't complaining. She loved both feelings, they just wreaked havoc on her ability to focus.

Ruger pulled the bike into a parking lot and parked in one of the white outlined spaces that wasn't really a parking space because it was too small for a car, but a motorcycle fit just fine. He took her hand as they went to the gate and inside. Krissi started down at their hands for a moment as she let him lead her along, wondering why such a simple thing felt so right, so natural.

From the name, Krissi assumed the little theme park would be a copy of what Tucson had been a hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago, but now she wasn’t sure. It was a cute little western town, buildings with facades and dirt streets. There were a lot of people about. Some just wandering, most moving with some purpose as they went from one building to another. Most of the crowd was dressed in normal modern street clothes but there were more than a few in period clothing. They looked like they belonged here with the old-fashioned buildings and stage coaches.

Krissi didn't know where to go first, but Ruger seemed to. He led her into a building and stayed with her as she looked at each display of western movie history. She was fascinated. She'd never seen anything like this. Ruger stayed quiet for a while she took her time reading all the displays and stories. At first, she thought he was bored since there was nothing really going on, but when she turned to look. she found him busy reading the little plaques as well.

“Did you watch this growing up?” she asked. They were standing in front of a display with costumes from a popular television series she had watched reruns of for years.

“Not by choice. My sister loved it though, so I sat through a lot of it.” Ruger moved on without saying anything more. Krissi followed him to the next display. When they'd made it through the rest of the building they stepped back out on the narrow boardwalk and continued down the street. They hadn't gone very far when the sound of raised voices drew their attention. Curious, Krissi headed toward the noise.

A little way down the street she found a couple of men dressed in old fashioned shirts and pants with revolvers on their belts shouting at each other. Before she had time to wonder what was going on, one of the men pulled the gun off his hip and aimed at the other. A loud pop sounded and Krissi noticed several in the crowd jumping at the noise, as if it was real gunfire. The sound alone told her it was a show. The guns made a popping sound that was much quieter and less shocking than real gunfire. She stood and watched the show, noticing how practiced the men were as they went through the motions of the choreographed fight. Once it was all over, the man who’d been ‘shot’ got up, dusted himself off and all the actors shook hands and posed with any of the crowd who wanted pictures.

“Want to have your picture taken with one of them?” Ruger asked.

“Nah, I don't need to.” Krissi shook her head, not wanting to snuggle up to some stranger when he'd brought her.

“Go ahead. Give me your phone and I'll take the picture.” He took her phone and pushed her in the direction of a couple of the gunfighters posing for pictures.

What the hell, she thought, why not enjoy it while she was here? She waited her turn and then stood between the two men and wrapped her arms around them while smiling big. Might as well make it look like she was having a good time. Ruger focused on her phone then nodded.

“Thanks guys,” Krissi said to the actors before going back to Ruger. She looked at the photos he'd taken and realized she looked happy in a way she couldn't remember ever looking before. But she couldn't put her finger on just what it was.

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away and turned her attention back to Ruger. He’d already taken her hand in his and they were headed for another building. They went inside and sat down. Soon a show started. It didn't last long but it was cute and entertaining. The rest of the day was much the same and by the time they left the park, Krissi was tired but couldn't think of a better day she'd had in recent history.

By the time they made it back to her apartment that evening, Krissi was exhausted but it was good tired. She'd seen and done more in her new city in one day than she'd done since she'd moved there two months before.

“You want to get some dinner?” Ruger asked as dismounted from his bike in front of her building.

“I wish I could but I need to get some homework done before I have to go to work tomorrow.”

Ruger hooked one arm around her waist and tugged her close. “We can order in and I can just hang out, maybe help you with your homework if you like.” She got the impression he didn't want the day to end either.

“As good as that sounds, I'm afraid we'd end up naked and I’d get no work done.”

“Now that sounds even better.” He gave her a playful leer.

“Which why I'm going to say no, not tonight.”

Ruger stuck his lower lip out in a false pout. “All right, if you say so, but give me your phone.” She handed over her phone and he messed with it for a moment, a phone in his pocket rang, stopped, then gave it back. “There, now you have my number and I have yours. You don't have to come into Drifter's to find me, not that I mind seeing you there.” He winked and grinned and Krissi knew she’d made the right decision.

“That will be nice.” Krissi reminded herself this was supposed to be a one night stand as she tucked her phone back into her pocket. “I guess I better go.” She turned and looked down the street, avoiding meeting his eyes.

“Come here a minute.” He tugged her close again. “If I've got to let you go, I need another kiss first.” His mouth came down on hers with a hard, possessive kiss. After a moment, he pulled away. “Go on before I forget my good intentions and follow you inside. You're right, you probably won’t get any work done if I go in with you.”

She turned and left him leaning against his bike as she went up the stairs to her apartment. At the door, she turned and saw him still watching her, making sure she made it inside safely. A warm, secure feeling rushed through her as she unlocked the door and went inside.

Ruger pulled up in front of Drifter's twenty minutes later, parked his bike with the others and went inside.

“Where you been?” Gizmo called out as soon as Ruger stepped in the door. “I been trying to get a hold of you all day.”

“If it had been urgent you would have sent a 911.” Ruger ignored the look of surprise that crossed his friend's face and the narrow-eyed look that followed. He went behind the bar and checked things there before moving to his office in the back. Gizmo didn't hesitate to follow.

“You left with a chick last night. Someone might think getting laid by a piece of ass like that would put you in a bet-” Gizmo didn't get a chance to finish what he was saying because Ruger spun around and grabbed the front of Gismo’s shirt in one fist. Ruger shoved the other man back against the wall.

“Never again,” Ruger growled between clenched teeth. “Never again will you call her a piece of ass or speak about her that way. Do you understand me.?”

“You got it, man,” Gizmo gasped. “Whatever you say.”

Ruger lowered him from the wall, released his shirt and stalked around the desk to his chair. He shot the other man a withering look before sitting down. “What was the big deal that had you calling me all day?” He shuffled inventory forms and orders from suppliers, sorting them while he waited for the answer.

“A bit of trouble at the clubhouse. One of the prospects got drunk and stupid.”

“Sadist couldn't handle it?” He continued sorting the papers.

“We couldn't get a hold of him either, his phone was shut off.”

Ruger looked up and focused on the younger man. “Have we made contact yet? Made sure he's all right?” No answer at all was concerning. After the first call that morning, Ruger had texted back saying he would be busy all day. That hadn't stopped them from trying to call him but at least they wouldn't panic because he was unreachable.

“Yeah, he called in an hour ago. Said he'd been busy and his phone had died without him realizing it.”

“Did we get shit straight with the prospect?”

“Yeah, Wally took care of him.”

“All right,” Ruger looked back at the desk, sure he was forgetting something. “Is there something else that needs my attention tonight?”

“Some of the guys were wondering if you'd be at the clubhouse tonight.”

Ruger glanced up and found Gizmo looking at the door, as if he wished he could get away. “I might. Is there some reason they need me there tonight?”

“Not that I know of.” Gizmo's gaze fell to the floor and Ruger wondered what was up. “It's just that you haven't been around much.”

“I've been short-handed here after George quit. I've had to cover the bar on top of all the shit to keep this place open.” Ruger looked down at the stacks of papers in front of him He really needed to get this shit done, he’d already put it off longer than he should have. “Give me an hour or two then I'll head over there, unless something comes up here.”

“I'll let them know,” Gizmo said, then left, closing the door behind him.

Ruger sighed. He didn't want to be either here or at the clubhouse tonight but both needed to be done, especially since he couldn't be where he wanted. Having spent one night with Krissi in his arms, he wanted another. He'd slept better with her than he had in ages. With effort, he put her out of his mind as he got busy. This shit had to get done if he intended to keep the bar open.

“You're telling me the Devils are pushing at our southern border, trying to move in on our territory?” Sadist asked the third man at the table, Crash. Crash was another of the Demented Souls members. He’d earned his nickname after crashing three bikes in as many months, the handlebars from the last one now hung over the bar at Drifters. Crash had come into the clubhouse ten minutes earlier and made a b-line for Ruger and Sadist. The way he'd searched them out and come straight for them, it was obvious he had something to report.

“Yes, sir. I saw it myself. They dropped off a group of girls on Grant.”

“How many exactly?”

“I didn’t count, but I’d say six, maybe seven.”

Sadist's eyes darkened. “Did you do anything?”

“No, I was alone. I knew I'd get my ass kicked, by them and you, if I did more than watch and report without some kind of back up. Besides, there was more than a half-dozen of them. Too many for me alone.”

“We'll have to deal with this, fast, or they'll push harder and do more than drop their hookers on our streets.” Ruger said looking to Sadist for confirmation.

The club’s vice president nodded. “Swift and harsh is the only way to end this. It's the only way to stop the Devils and keep other clubs from attempting the same thing.” Sadist glanced around the room. “I'll talk to Tuck, we'll get with Watt and put together a plan of attack.”

“I'm in when you're ready to put together a team.” Crash slammed one fist down on the table, making the beer in Sadist's mug slosh. Ruger had his drink in his hand, resting on his leg. Crash had a habit of slamming tables when he was agitated, so Ruger had picked up his mug when he sat down.

“I'll let you know,” Sadist picked up his glass and took a long drink. Crash got up and went to the bar. Sadist turned back to Ruger. “So, you left last night with that chick and were unreachable all day.”

“Not unreachable, I made contact.”

“Yeah, to tell us you were busy.”

Ruger lifted one shoulder and looked across the room. “Shit happens.”

“I'd lay money on you spending the day with her.”

“So?”

“Did you?”

“What if I did?”

Sadist shook his head, but Ruger was saved from whatever he was going to say next when Tuck, the club president came in. Tuck was only about an inch taller than Ruger putting him at 6’2”, he shaved his head except for his dark van dyke beard, he ordered a drink then came to sit with them.

“What's up guys?”

“Not much with me, but Ruger's got a new girl.” Sadist tipped his head in Ruger's direction. Ruger rolled his eyes and ignored the dig.

“Crash just came in with some news,” Ruger told the president what the club brother had told them earlier.

“Well, shit.” Tuck leaned back in his seat and took a drink from the bottle Jake, one of the prospects, had brought him. Tuck was silent for almost a full minute before speaking again. “Where's Crash? I've got some questions for him.”

Ruger scanned the room, spotted the man in question across the room and called him over.

“Have a seat.” Ruger kicked a chair toward Crash with one foot. “We've got some questions.”

Crash sat and looked at each of the men in turn, waiting.

“I hear you encountered some Devils today,” Tuck eyed Crash.

“Yeah, I was down on Grant and saw some of them drop off a bunch of girls, then take off.”

“Girls?” Tuck lifted one brow. Ruger knew he wanted Crash to say it.

“Hookers.”

“Would you recognize the Devils if you saw them again, the specific ones I mean?”

Crash made a face. “Maybe a couple of 'em, but prolly not all of 'em.”

“How about the girls?”

“Yeah, there weren't that many and I got a better look at 'em.”

If the truth were known, he was probably paying more attention to the whores than to the Devils. Not that Ruger could blame him on that mostly. Ruger was quiet for the exchange, waiting to see what Tuck had in mind.

“Take some guys, you said six or seven girls, so take at least ten men, just in case they're watching, and go pick up the girls. The Devils just lost their whores.”

“Yes, sir.” Crash got up and went to gather some men for their mission.

“What are you planning to do with the girls?” Ruger asked while watching Crash move around the room, going from brother to brother.

“That depends.” Tuck tipped his chair back on two legs as he took a long pull from the bottle in one hand.

“On what?” Sadist studied Tuck, then glanced at Ruger before turning back to Tuck again.

“On the girls.” Tuck pulled a coin from a small pocket on his kutte and started flipping it over his knuckles. “We'll need to question them, find out if they've been forced into what they're doing of if they've chosen it. I've heard the Devils are into forcing women to hook for them. If it's something these women have chosen to do, they can work for us. If the Devils didn’t give them a choice, they’ll have one now. I won't force a woman into something like that. I’m not sure what we'll do with them, but we'll give them some choices.”

“I can live with that.” Sadist said, looking back to Ruger. “What about you?”

“It’s reasonable, but let's see what the girls have to say before we make any concrete decisions.” Ruger drained his mug and waved at Lurch who was manning the bar for a refill.

Ruger was still sitting at the table, now alone, when Crash and the others returned an hour later. Tuck had moved on to check in with some of the other brothers and Sadist had joined Gizmo in a game of pool. They were taking turns making bad shots and feeling up one of the club sluts. Some of the women who hung around the club house were hookers, but most just liked the lifestyle for one reason or another. Double D, the piece of ass Sadist and Gizmo were toying with, was one of the later.

The thunder of several bikes pulling into the lot let him know someone had arrived, and though he couldn't be sure, he expected it was Crash. A couple minutes later Crash came in the door, his kutte inside out so his club colors were hidden, one arm around a girl who looked about fifteen. Watt was behind him, his kutte inside out again and another girl with him. There were several more brothers come in, with their arms around a girl and several more without girls. It looked like they had pretended to be johns to get the girls to come with them without making a scene. Pretended, Ruger shook his head, chances were most of them would end up sleeping with the whore they’d brought back, assuming the girls still wanted to after they’d been questioned. Scanning the room, Ruger spotted Tuck sitting in the corner. Getting up, he went to him.

“Well, he got them, what now?” Ruger spun a chair until the back was to the table and sat astride it, setting his beer on the table. He wanted this over with so he could go home where he was sure his bed still smelled of Krissi.

“Let ‘em have a couple drinks. They'll be more relaxed and talk easier after.” Tuck looked around, seeming to take in the newcomers. “Except that one.” He nodded his head toward Crash. “Get something on her, ID, prints, whatever, and run her. If she's as young as she looks we need to get her taken care of and out of here. Pronto.”

Ruger followed the president's gaze and saw he was talking about the girl he’d been concerned about as well. He agreed, she needed to be checked out right away. “I'll get it taken care of.”

Taking his beer with him, Ruger stood and headed for the bar where Crash sat on a bar stool, the girl on one knee. Instead of coming to the front side of the bar, he moved around the back, picked up a couple shot glasses and a bottle of tequila. “How about a drink for the pretty lady?” He set the glasses on the counter and filled them both then set out the slices of lime and the shaker of salt. “Bottom's up.” He picked up his glass and watched as she picked up hers, tipping it back and drinking it straight. He did the same with his, then set the glass on the counter with a thump. He waited until she did then carefully took her glass up by the rim and set it below the edge of the bar. “What's your name?” He gave her his best smile.

“Holly.” She looked at him then back to Crash, like she wasn't sure which one she should be paying attention to.

Ruger slipped plastic bag down over the shot glass while smiling and keeping contact with Holly. He was doing his best to distract her from what his hands were doing. Ruger cocked one eyebrow at Crash. “That's one beautiful girl you've got yourself. Better keep an eye on her or someone else might try to steal her away from you.” He kept his tone light and playful and winked at Holly before unobtrusively picking up the bag with the glass and heading for the back room. On his way, he caught Gizmo's eye and tilted his head so the other man would follow him.

In the back room of the club house, the private area where club business was discussed, meetings were held and only club members were allowed, Ruger waited for Gizmo, then closed and locked the door. Once he the room was secure, he pulled out the bag. “I need you to print this and run it.” Ruger passed the bag to the other man, went to another wall and triggered the hidden lock. A camouflaged door swung open soundlessly, revealing a small room filled with computers, weapons and specialized equipment.

“What is it?” Gizmo carried the bag into the small room, set it down and put on a pair of blue nitrile gloves.

“A shot glass. I used it to get prints from one of the girls that Crash and the others brought in.”

Gizmo looked up and frowned but went back to work without a word. He used a long-bristled brush and fine graphite powder to dust for finger prints.

“The ones on the rim are mine. “

Gizmo nodded and bit his lip as he focused on the task at hand. He used clear strips of tape to lift the prints off the sides of the glass then smoothed them onto white pieces of paperboard. Once he had the prints lifted he took them to a computer, scanned them and with a few strokes on the keyboard, had them on the screen comparing them to the hundreds of prints that flashed across the screen too fast to see any detail. Leaning back in his chair Gizmo turned and looked at Ruger.

“Why this one? Why not all of them?”

“We'll probably get to all of them in time, but this is the one that looks like she’s about twelve. I think Tuck wants to make sure she hasn’t been kidnapped and isn’t missing from somewhere.”

“You think the Devils kidnapped her and made her work the streets?” A scowl appeared on Gismo’s face, not the frown of concentration he'd worn a few minutes ago, but one filled with anger and menace at the idea of forcing a teenager into prostitution.

“I wouldn't put it past them. We won't know for sure until we get something back on her prints, though. If anything comes back at all.”

“You know anything else about her?”

“Not really, “ Ruger lifted one corner of his mouth. “She says her name's Holly. That could be true, or it could be bullshit, we've no way to know.”

“Well, if she's in the system, she'll pop here. We just have to cross our fi-” The computer behind Gizmo chimed and something had popped up. He spun his chair around to look at it. “I'll be damned.”

“What is it? Missing or runaway?” Ruger held his breath.

“Neither.” Gismo fell silent while he read the screen. “She's twenty one, grew up in Seattle, changed her address and license to Arizona a couple years ago. She's got a couple joy-riding charges, an underage drinking, but that's about it. It appears that not only is she in Tucson of her own free will, but she's legal too.”

Ruger let his breath out in a rush. “Well, legal age is good. She won't endanger us for serving her. Now we can question her like the rest of the girls.” He took a couple deep breaths and let go of the tension he’d been holding as he’d worried about how young she actually might being. “Let's get this place closed up so I can go tell Tuck.” He glanced around, wondering how long that would take. Gizmo moved quickly and less than three minutes they’d put everything away and closed the hidden room.

Ruger waited until everything was in place, and Gizmo was beside him, beer in hand, before unlocking the door leading back into the main clubhouse. Gizmo went back to the girl he'd left when Ruger called him. She was now sitting on Wally's lap. Ruger saw the relief in her eyes when she spotted Gizmo again. Ruger scanned the room and found Crash had moved away from the bar and now sat at a table, Holly on his lap as he tried to inspect her tonsils with his tongue. Ruger shook his head and wondered if Crash would ever have a lick of sense. He stopped at the bar and got two fresh bottles of Bud before going to the table where Tuck sat eying Gizmo with a scowl. Ruger sat down and waited until the president looked at him to make his report.

“We're in the clear if he screws her. S6he's legal.”

Tuck's eyes widened and he turned back to look at the girl in question then back to Ruger.

“You're sure she's not jailbait?”

“Not according to her prints. Her name is Holly Reynolds, she grew up in Seattle and she's twenty-one.”

“She been reported missing?”

“Not so far. She's got a record though, mostly petty shit, under-age drinking, joy riding, that kind of thing. She's been in Tucson about three years.”

Tuck turned back to the girl and Crash. He took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “At least he won't have to worry about statutory charges. At the rate they're going, they'll fuck right there.”

“You want to pull her away and question her before they get that far?”

“No.” Tuck scanned the room before looking back at Ruger. “Let's talk to that one first.” Ruger’s gaze skipped to the woman he’d noticed before, she was with Wally but looked uncomfortable.

“Sure. Where you want to do this?”

“Grab one of the bedrooms. One that doesn't belong to anyone.”

“Sure thing. I'll take her up, maybe give her a drink if she's not already shit-faced then we can see what she knows.” Ruger pushed himself out of the chair. “You want to help or should I get Sadist?”

“You two get started, we’ll talk about what you find out later.” Tuck met Ruger's gaze then scanned the room again. “I want to keep an eye on things down here for a while.”“

“No problem. I'll get Sadist and get started.” Ruger looked around and spotted the VP sitting at a table hear the corner, his back to the wall and a bottle of Jack on the table in front of him. Shit. Ruger shook his head and hoped the other man hadn't already had too much as he made his way across the semi-crowded room. “What's up with you?” Ruger asked, hooking chair with one foot and dragging it away from the table. He sat, still waiting for a response.

“Not much. Just sitting here, watching the show.”

Sadist wasn't slurring his words. A good sign. Ruger stared out at the room, taking in the view. Most of the girls they'd picked up tonight were with the guy who'd brought them in, either sitting on their laps or hanging on their necks. Linda, one of the club whores who'd been around for years, was dancing around a pole, topless. It's a good thing their liquor license said private club, he thought, but that was nothing new.

“You up for an assignment or you had too much to be clear headed?” Ruger motioned to the bottle with his chin.

Sadist glared at Ruger a second then rolled his eyes. “I've had one shot. What's Tuck want done?”

At least Sadist was with it enough to notice who Ruger had been talking to. “He wants us to question some of the girls. Find out what they know about what the Devils are up to.”

“They're not going to know shit.”

“Not likely, or at least not directly, but might be able to bits and pieces from enough of them to piece things together or at least work out motivations.”

“We gonna start with that little girl Crash is molesting?” Sadist narrowed his eyes on Crash's direction.

“Actually, no. She looks like jail bait but she's legal. We'll start with that one.” He nodded toward the girl Tuck had said to take first. She still looked just as uncomfortable and unhappy as before.

Sadist's gaze never left Crash and the girl but one corner of his mouth lifted. “Jail bait huh? You sure she's legal?”

“Free, white and twenty-one, according to her prints, but we'll talk to her later and be sure. Come on. Tuck said to use one of the rooms upstairs, an empty one.”

Sadist glanced at him then pushed himself upright. “Third one on the railing is empty. You bring her up, I'll go up first and wait “

“Here.” Ruger picked up the bottle of Jack and handed it to him. “Take this up with you, just in case.”

Sadist stared at him a second, grunted, took the bottle and left. Ruger watched him as, scowling, he stalked across the room. No one was willing to risk Sadist’s wrath by stopping him or getting in his way. Ruger shook his head, wondering what was bothering his friend. He knew eventually Sadist would share, but he didn't have time to push for it now. Ruger took a deep breath and went to do what had to be done.

Ruger rolled his eyes and resisted the desire to peel the girl's arms from around his neck as they climbed the stairs. Her perfume gave him a headache and he really didn't want to touch her more than he had to. Ruger also didn't want anyone in the clubhouse to realize this was anything more than it appeared to be. Him taking a whore up to a bed. It wasn't that the girl was unattractive. She was cute enough and her skin-tight clothes let the world know she had a screaming hot body. But she wasn't Krissi.

At the top of the stairs he steered her along the open walkway that looked over the main room, toward the room where Sadist waited. Opening the door, Ruger guided her inside. Once the door was closed and they were completely out of sight, he unwound her arms from around him and sat her on the bed.

“Hang on a minute, girl. What's your name?” Ruger dropped her hands on her lap and stepped back out of her reach. She leaned back on the bed, automatically striking a seductive pose, or at least he thought it was supposed to be. It didn't begin to compare to Krissi sitting astride his lap in her bra.

“Come on, baby.” Her voice was low and breathy but he could tell it was done for his benefit. “You brought me up here for a reason.” She ran one scarlet taloned finger along her plunging neckline in an attempt to draw his attention to her impossibly perky boobs. Real tits moved and jiggled in ways hers didn't.

“We're not here for what you think.” Ruger switched on the lamp next to the bed. The changing light made the body glitter that covered every bare inch of her skin shine. “I'll ask again. What's your name?”

She shifted slightly making her glitter shimmer in the light. “Name's Sparkle, honey. Though I don't know why it's important to you.”

“There are a lot of things that are important to us,” Sadist said from a chair in a dark corner. Sadist switched on the lamp beside him, revealing himself. Sparkle's head snapped around to stare at him for about two seconds before her come hither mask fell back into place and she looked back to Ruger, a coy smile on her face.

“Two of you will cost extra.”

Ruger fought the urge to roll his eyes and instead glanced at Sadist.

“We're not going to fuck you,” the VP spoke again.

Sparkle frowned. “Then what do you want?”

“Answers. Why else would a Devils whore be in the Demented Souls clubhouse?” Sadist laughed, a cruel, mocking laugh. Ruger frowned and wondered again what was going on with his friend. Not that it mattered, he still didn't have time to drag it out of him.

“Actually,” Ruger spoke up, calling her attention back to him. “We don't expect you to know much about the Devils. Mostly we want to know about you.” He sat on the edge of the bed, careful to leave a sizable gap between his body and hers. He shot Sadist a scowl then turned back to Sparkle. “Would you like a drink?” If Sadist was determined to be gruff and angry, then Ruger would be polite and friendly, at least as long as it worked. Sparkle blinked several times. Ruger reached across over and grabbed one of the shot glasses kept on the table beside the bed and lifted the bottle Sadist had left there for her to see.

“Sure.”

He poured the drink and handed it to her. She held the glass steady, letting him know she hadn't had as much to drink down stairs as he'd feared. She threw her head back, drinking the strong liquor without a grimace or cough. She looked at the glass a second then let it rest in her lap.

“What is it you want to know?”

“First, where are you from? You said your name's Sparkle, right?”

She nodded and looked at her lap for a moment. “I'm from Utah, a small town I'm sure you've never heard of.”

“Okay.” Ruger glanced at Sadist then back to her. “How'd you get into prostitution, Sparkle?”

She made a face. “I got hooked on pills. It got to be more than I could afford and my dealer let me use myself into debt, then demanded I start hooking for him to pay what I owed him.”

“Was he with the Devils?”

“You mean with the bikers?”

“Yeah, the guys that dropped you off this afternoon.”

“No.” She ran her fingers over the Demented Souls Emblem etched into the glass in her hand. “Spanky, that was my dealer, he got in trouble with them for working me and a couple other girls in their territory. I heard they told him he could keep us or his life. He chose to live.”

Ruger wasn't sure how to take that. Yeah, she'd been forced into becoming a hooker, but the Devils had only taken her over once that was done. Not that it made them guiltless, but they hadn’t put her in the position she was in, only kept her there.

“You still hooked on the shit that got you in trouble to start with?” Sadist asked from the corner. Ruger glanced at him and found the other man leaning forward, his arms resting on his knees.

“No, not for a while. Spanky kept me on them, kept letting me have what I needed as long as I worked for him. Once the bikers took us over they cut me off. Said I had a debt to pay and I wasn't going to run it even deeper by popping pills.”

“How long you been clean?” The vice president was still asking the questions.

“A while.” She looked away.

“How long is 'a while',” Ruger prompted.

“I'm not sure exactly. Nearly a year, maybe more.”

Ruger watched her for several seconds then glancing at Sadist, he stood to pace the small room. “Where do you live?”

“I don't.”

“Come again?” Sadist lifted one brow.

She took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “There's a house a block or two from the biker's place where we all supposedly live.”

“All?” Ruger asked.

“All the girls they control. Anyway, it's mostly just a place to shower, change clothes or do laundry. It's not like I have a home or any space of my own.”

“Tell me about their place.” Ruger stopped pacing and leaned against the wall near the door.

“I'm not sure what you want to know. It's a big place, fenced in, with four or five buildings. But I was only ever allowed in one.”

“Tell me about that one.” He wanted to see what she could tell them.

“From the outside, it looked like a big warehouse, but inside it was different. Kind of like this place, but not.”

“What do you mean?”

“It had a big room, like the one downstairs, and bedrooms but no bar like you have, and this place is way cleaner. I didn't want to touch anything there for fear of catching something, not that I had a choice.” Sparkle shuddered.

“From the way you talk, I assume they were abusive?” Sadist asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

She looked at Sadist for a long second.

“Aside from keeping you in forced prostitution that is,” Ruger put in.

Sparkle grimaced.

“When I'm working, I can refuse a john with a bad reputation or one who just creeps me. We don't get the option of saying no to the bikers. If you try to say no or fight back, they beat the shit out of you. Then they all take turns using you to teach you your place.”

Ruger knew that shouldn't surprise him but for a second he had no words.

“They did that to you?” Sadist clenched his fists where they hung between his knees.

“They do it to all of us, it's just a matter of how many times it happens to you before you give up and stop trying to say no.”

“I guess you won't be too upset that we don't plan to give you back then?” Ruger kept his eyes on her, trying to read her reaction.

Her eyes went wide and she looked back and forth between the two men for a moment.

“What's going to happen to us?” Sparkle’s voice trembled ever so slightly.

“That's yet to be decided” Ruger said slowly. He didn't want to make promises that he couldn't keep.

“It sure as hell won't be gang rape.” Sadist shoved one hand through his hair, ripping it free from the band that kept it out of his face. Ruger knew he was right. The Souls were no saints, but not a single one of them would condone rape, much less the kind of hell she must have survived with the Devils. “You're safe in this building, you hear me? You tell any man in this club no and that's all it takes. If anyone tries to force you, I had better hear about it.” Sadist had to take several deep breaths and Ruger could tell he was on the verge of snarling.

“Sparkle, this is Sadist.” It was a little late for introductions but she needed to know the other man was in a position of power. “He's our vice president, so pretty much what he says goes. The only one who can countermand him is our prez, Tuck. I'm sure you'll meet him soon.” He wanted her to feel safe enough to tell them what they needed to know.

Sparkle looked back and forth between the two men as if unsure. Ruger sensed she knew something more, even if she didn't realize she knew it. Time would tell, but he was sure they wouldn’t be getting any more out of her tonight. Glancing at Sadist, he found the other man already watching him. Ruger jerked his head slightly toward the door and the other man nodded almost imperceptibly then stood.

“Take this room as yours for the night,” Ruger said to Sparkle. “Feel free to go back down stairs and have a few more drinks, spend some time with the guys, or not. Either way, the room is yours.” He stood and watched as Sadist picked up the bottle of Jack and headed out. He waited for Sadist to leave then followed him out the door. Once it was closed and they stood on the walkway overlooking the room below, he turned to Sadist.

“Not what I was expecting.” Ruger took a few steps away from the door, farther from the staircase and stopped in front of a closed door.

“Me either,” Sadist growled, a scowl making deep creases in his brow.

Ruger opened the door and found that, as he'd expected, the room beyond was empty. “Gimme that.” He took the bottle of Jack. “Your turn to go get the next girl.” He didn't wait for Sadist to argue or ask questions, but went straight to the table beside the bed. He took one of the glasses kept there and poured two fingers of the whiskey. “You can report to Tuck if you want, but I think it will be a waste of time until we talk to at least a couple more and know more than bits and pieces.” Ruger carried his glass and the bottle to the chair in the corner and sat. Feeling his friend's gaze, he looked up and found Sadist had yet to move. Ruger lifted his glass as if in toast then threw back the strong liquor. The door clicked shut as Sadist left and Ruger pulled a face. Jack wasn't his drink of choice but he needed something after what he'd heard.

He took a deep breath and dropped his head back against the chair. This is not how he'd hoped to spend the evening. He'd much rather be sitting somewhere talking to, or even watching TV with Krissi. Hell, he didn't really care what they were doing, he’d even go shopping without much complaint if it were what she wanted to do.

The door opened and a tall, dark haired girl stumbled in, with Sadist just behind, though not stumbling. Sadist still didn't look happy, but at least the scowl was gone. After some fumbling, he got the girl to sit on the bed much as Ruger had, but it was obvious this girl all giggle sand slippery hands where Sparkle had been more composed and focused. Finally, Sadist seemed to have had enough.

“Stop,” Sadist barked.

His tone must have penetrated her haze because her hands froze. She looked up at him with wide, fear filled, eyes.

“Shit.” The other man muttered as he pulled away and stepped out of her reach. Getting his first clear look at her, Ruger realized girl wasn’t the right word for her, as she was at least thirty, maybe even forty with dark honey colored skin and nearly black hair that curled around her shoulders. Between the two of them Sadist and Ruger asked her mostly the same things they'd asked Sparkle.

Her name was Dulce and she had never known the Spanky who had gotten Sparkle into hooking. Dulce had been working the street when the Devils took over her neighborhood. They'd killed her pimp and taken over his girls. Dulce'd been under the Devils' control for somewhere around five years and as far as Ruger could tell, she had no ambitions or desire to do anything but hook. The real information from Dulce came when they realized the Devils had become lax about talking around her. After some hesitation, Dulce revealed that she'd heard one of them say it was time they expanded their territory before the girls had been dropped off that afternoon.

Together, Ruger and Sadist questioned a couple more girls, learning only disjointed bits and pieces from each. It was almost midnight when Ruger went downstairs to get the last one, the girl he kept thinking of as Jailbait, but he couldn’t see here anywhere. After a moment, he realized Crash was gone too.

“Don't worry, you can catch her in the morning.” Tuck said when informed of the problem. “She went upstairs with Crash a while back. Judging from the way they were all over each other, they won't come out until noon.” Tuck nodded at the empty chair across the table. “Have a seat.” He waved to get the prospect, Jake's, attention.

Ruger sat and leaned back in the chair with a sigh. He waited while the president told the prospect to bring them drinks then for the younger man to turn to him.

“Bud?” Jake asked.

“Not after tonight. Bring me a bottle of Patron and a glass.”

“Salt and lime?”

“Don't bother.”

Jake left to get the drinks and Tuck watched Ruger for a moment.

“That bad huh?” Tuck lifted one brow.

“We've seen worse. I just wasn't expecting to encounter it talking to a few whores, and I wasn't prepared for what they had to say.” Jake brought their drinks and Ruger sent him up to let Sadist know he wasn't coming back. Ruger poured himself a drink and threw it back.

“What did you learn?” Tuck asked as Ruger set his glass on the table with a thunk.

Ruger took a deep breath. “This was definitely an attempt to try to take some of our territory.” He shook his head as he thought about it. “One of the girls overheard the Devils talking about wanting to expand not long before they were dropped off.”

“How much difficulty you think the girls will give us for not letting them go back to the Devils?”

“I don't think it's a question of them giving us trouble, there might be one, maybe two that wouldn't mind going back, but most of 'em will be thrilled to get free of the Devils”

“Not good management?”

“Piss poor business management and more than a little abuse. I don't think the girls will fight but the Devils will see it as a declaration of war.”

“Abuse? Physical? Substance? Or what?”

“Physical, sexual, emotional, you name it. The only good thing I can say about the Devils is that they did get the girls who were hooked on drugs off them. The hardest thing they were allowed is alcohol. It seems they didn't want the expense of keeping up with their addictions.”

Tuck was quiet for several moments. “Give me your opinion on what we should do about the girls and the Devils.”

Ruger poured another drink and set back in his chair. “There's a lot to consider. Some of these girls were forced into what they're doing.” He shook his head. “Sadist already promised one safety while she’s here.”

“He what?' Tuck frowned.

Ruger explained the situation and what they'd learned from Sparkle. Tuck growled, a low rumble deep in his chest. “As much as I’d like to, I can’t blame him but I really wish he'd check with me before doing this kind of shit.”

They discussed the pros and cons of different options while Ruger had a couple more drinks, then he went up to the room he kept at the club house for the night. Alone. Krissi wasn’t here and right now, she was the only one he wanted.

Krissi Tried to sleep, but woke several times. She missed the warmth and the safe protected feeling of Ruger’s arms around her. At 6:30 she gave up trying and got out of bed. She finished the homework that needed to be turned in the next day, but it took her three times what it should have because she kept finding herself staring off into space thinking about Ruger. Picking up her phone, she checked for the hundredth time for a message from him. Nothing. She didn't know why she kept checking, she didn't expect him to call. Not really. Setting the phone aside she picked up her math book and told herself she wasn’t going to pick up the phone again as she opened the book and found her place.

Her phone chimed an incoming message and she had it in her hand before the tone finished playing.

“Wat u up 2” The message was from Juanita, one of the few people from Albuquerque that Krissi was still in touch with. Juanita had never had anything to do with Krissi's dad's club so there had been no reason to cut ties with her like she had most of her friends and family.

“Not much, you?” She sent the first reply then quickly typed up another. “Trying to get my homework done”

“Wat u takin?” Krissi rolled her eyes at the abbreviated language, but responded anyway.

“English, Math, Biology, Psych. And Western Civilization, aka history. Mostly boring stuff but the psych is interesting” Krissi couldn’t help but shake her head at the way Juanita still abbreviated her text messages like she was in high school or typing it all on an old T9 keyboard. Krissi had long ago started using whole words and usually even punctuation in texts. Smart phones and spell check made it easy to not look like an 8 year old. While Krissi and Juanita had remained friends, they didn't talk a great deal. They were friends, but not best friends. Krissi hadn't talked to or messaged her best friend in almost six months, not since she'd left home. Melody was the daughter of one of her dad's men, that made it a bad idea to stay in touch. Instead, Krissi kept in touch with the one link to home she still had, Juanita.

Taking a deep breath, Krissi shook off the loneliness her thoughts brought with them and went back to work. Her phone chimed again and she let it sit for a few minutes while she finished her last few algebra problems, Juanita could wait.

Closing her notebook, Krissi set it aside and grabbed the one she used for history then remembered Juanita. She picked up her phone and found there were two messages waiting. One was from Juanita.

“Sounds like u r keepin busy. u havin ny fun at all?”

She quickly typed up her response and hit send. “Some, but I don't have time for much” Touching the screen a few times she found the second message was from Ruger. Her heart raced while she waited for the message to pop up.

“Free tonight?”

“Only if I can get my homework done first.” She sent back. She waited several seconds then set her phone aside, opened her history book and found the right chapter. Her phone chimed again and she snatched it up.

“Have you eaten today? Can I bring you food?”

She had eaten breakfast but nothing since, glancing at the clock, she realized it was almost 4pm. She wanted to see him but suspected they would get naked instead of her homework done. Her phone chirped in her hand.

“I won't interfere with your studying, I'll even help if I can.” Something inside softened and she had to admit, food sounded good. She wasn’t sure how much help he would be, but decided to give him a chance.

“All right”

“Chinese? Pizza?” came back a few seconds later.

“Pizza please. Pepperoni and mushrooms for me”

“Ok. Be there soon. Apt #?”

She sent him the number, then set her phone aside, still waiting for Juanita to reply and settled in with her history homework. No longer impatient to hear from Ruger, she quickly lost herself in the work. She was almost done with the last answer when a knock sounded on the door.

“Just a second.” She jotted down the last sentence, slammed the book shut, tossed it on top of the pile and got up. “Coming!” She hurried to the door, flipped the locks and swung it open.

“Did you even check to see who it was?” Ruger stepped inside, a stack of boxes in one hand and a plastic bag in the other.

“No. No one ever comes to see me. You're the only one it could have been.” She took the bag. “This way.” She led him into the tiny kitchen and set the bag on the counter, leaving barely enough room on the counter for the pizza. “That smells amazing, where is it from?” She looked at the box to see where he'd gone. “Uncle Tony's? I've never heard of them.”

“It's a local place, really good and my favorite.” He flipped open the box and revealed the pie covered in cheese and toppings. “Plates?” He motioned to the bag in front of her.

Opening the bag, Krissi found a package of paper plates, small packets of cheese and red pepper flakes for the pizza and a carton of ice cream. “Ice cream?” She looked up at him.

“I took a chance.” He shrugged one shoulder.

She opened the plates and handed him two then put the ice cream in the freezer for later. “Want something to drink? I have tea, water, and soda.”

“Is the tea sweet?”

“Nope.”

“Then that sounds good.” He served pizza, closed the box and opened a second. Cheesy bread went on the plates next. Krissi hurried to fix his drink. “Where you want to eat?” He looked around as if looking for a table.

“In the other room. It's just me and I didn't see the point in wasting space with another table.” She carried his glass and followed as he carried both plates. “There,” she motioned to the long, low table in front of the folded futon. “I eat at the coffee table.” Moving in front of him she set his glass on the table and gathered the books that had scattered on top when she’d tossed the last one on top and stacked them on one end, beside her laptop.

He glanced around. “No TV?”

“Nope.” She took one plate from him and sat down, motioning for him to join her. “I don't want to waste money on cable, besides, I don't have time to watch it anyway.”

“You go to school and work at the diner, while I realize that takes decent amount of time, it can't take it all. So, what do you do in your spare time?”

“Well, to be honest, they don't. But getting back and forth to work and school on the bus takes up what little time I don't spend doing homework or sleeping.”

Ruger frowned, then nodded toward the stack of books. “What are you studying?”

“General ed for now.” She picked up a piece of cheese bread and took a bite.

“What's your major?” It seemed they took turns eating and talking.

“I'm not sure yet. Right now I'm between business management and information system management.”

“Information system?” He frowned again.

“Computers.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Both would be useful.”

“That's part of why I'm having a hard time deciding. In the meantime, I'm taking the stuff I have to have either way.”

“That's a sound plan.” He popped the last bite of crust into his mouth, dusted off his fingers and motioned to her plate. “You want more?”

Glancing down, she realized she only had a couple bites left. “Um, sure.”

He picked up both plates and went in the kitchen, reappearing a moment later with more food. “So how much homework do you have tonight?” He sat down, putting her plate in front of her.

“Not as much as I had an hour ago. I had just finished my math when you offered dinner, and I was finishing my history when you go here. That's what took me so long to get to the door.” She ran one hand over her hair and realized she must look a mess. She'd changed out of her pajamas this morning but she’s put on things she only wore around the house. She hadn't even bothered to run a brush through her hair before pulling it up. She gave Ruger points that he hadn't said anything and didn't seem to notice or care.

Sitting on the floor, eating pizza at a coffee tablet with Krissi, Ruger noticed the feeling of contentment that washed through him. He'd spent the morning talking to Jailbait and, along with Tuck and Sadist, figuring out what the club’s next several moves would be. Life among the Demented Souls different than most people imagined they would have, but it was what he knew, what he was good at. Yet somehow it didn't feel as right as sitting on the floor with a girl in no makeup and her hair pulled up into a messy knot. Ruger couldn't explain it, not to his friend, his brothers or even to himself. There was something about her.

“Thank goodness you're done with the math. I'd be no help there.”

She laughed. “It's not my favorite but it's doable.”

“History I was never too bad at but it held no interest for me, it was just something to get through. What do you have left?”

“English and psychology. I finished my biology on Friday, before work.”

“That's too bad. Biology is interesting.”

Krissi cringed, then laughed. The sound sent a jolt of heat through his body.

“You're gonna regret saying that.”

“Why?”

“Because now I know where to go for help. It's not boring like history, but it's difficult for me.”

“Anytime.” Ruger wasn't worried. If he was helping her with her classwork, he would be with her. Sure, the increased chance of getting laid would be great, too. His dick throbbed at the thought.

“I'm sure I'll be calling. I'm quickly getting lost.”

“I'd be happy to help you.” He dusted off his hands and set his plate aside. “So, what are we starting on first?”

Krissi ate the last of her pizza and stacked her plate on top of his then reached over and picked up her laptop. Opening it, she set it up in front of her and grabbed a notebook and pen. “English is what I'd planned on next. I don't have much though, I just need to whip out a rough draft of this paper. I've read all my research I just need to actually put my thoughts on the page.”

“Sounds like something you don't need much help for.”

She ducked her head. “Sorry, no. And I'll probably be kinda quiet and withdrawn for a little while.”

“No problem. I'm not here to distract you. You get to work and I'll clean this up.” He picked up their plates and carried them into the kitchen, leaving her to get started. Not wanting to disturb her, or leave the mess for her to clean up, he put the leftover food away as well as the rest of the stuff he'd brought. He'd had to open a few cabinets but he'd found were everything went and made sure there was no mess for her to deal with later.

When he went back to the living room, which he suspected was also the bedroom from the futon couch, she was engrossed in what she was doing on the screen, barely noticing as he picked up their glasses and took them into the kitchen. Refilling them both, he took them back in the living room and sat beside her on the couch. Curious, he picked up her psychology book and started thumbing through it. He was about half way through the book, reading bits and pieces that caught his interest when Krissi slid the computer back on the table, closed her note book and dropped it on the stack on the far side. She stood up and stretched, arching her back and leaning to either side.

“Bored out of your mind yet?” Krissi turned to face him.

“No, I'm good.” Ruger looked up at her and couldn't help but notice the way the light shone through the wisps of hair escaping the knot on top of her head. He wanted to pull her down and kiss her until they were both desperate to get out of their clothes, but he'd promised not to interfere with her homework and to help where he could. That wouldn't happen if he gave in to the desire to kiss her. At least not yet.

“I need to run to the bathroom. I'll be right back.” She disappeared through one of the two doors he'd not been through in the little apartment and returned a few minutes later. “Can I get you anything?” She stood in front of him and propped her hands on her hips. “More tea? A soda instead?”

“I'm good. If I need another drink, I'll help myself.” He lifted the book in his hands. “Let's get this stuff done so we can kick back and relax.”

Keeping her hands on her hips, she leaned back, so far back he thought she might fall over. He scooted forward in his seat and set the book on the table. “Come sit here, I can look over your shoulder while you work and we'll see what we can do together.”

She gave him a half-hearted smile, as if she doubted how much help he would be, but took her place on the floor. She pulled the laptop in front of her and opened a hit a few keys.

“What chapter are you working on?”

“The one about growth and development, I don't remember what the number was.”

“I saw that one, hang on a second.” Ruger picked up the book and flipped until he found the chapter. “Here it is, what do you have to do with it?”

“Not a lot. I've already read it, I just need to take the quiz and make an initial post on the discussion board.”

“Is the quiz timed?”

“Yeah, but we have a lot of time.”

“Enough time to look up all the answers in the book?”

“So far, yeah.”

“So, how about you start the quiz and anything you're not certain of the answer for, we look up? I've got the book at the ready, we should be able to knock this out in no time.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her cheeks puffing out as she exhaled. “All right, let's do this.” She curled and uncurled her fingers a few times then set them on the keyboard where her fingers seemed to fly. In just a moment she was in the blackboard system and opening the quiz. Ruger sat ready with the book but he only needed to look up a couple answers for the entire quiz. It took her another two or three minutes to make her post on the class discussion board, then she closed the laptop, pushed it away and dropped her head back into his lap. “All done.” Krissi closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “I try not to let it pile up like this but there were other things I wanted to do this week.” She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “I paid for it tonight, but it was worth it. Now I'm done for the weekend and I'm ready to relax.”

“How do you usually relax?” Ruger looked down at her upturned face and couldn't help but remember her tousled hair and sated look from when they had been together.

“Turn on some music, read a book, on the rare occasion go into a bar and have a drink.” She was watching him, Ruger knew.

“Oh? Are you wanting to do that tonight? See who you might pick up?” Ruger lifted one brow and he played along with her teasing.

“Oh, I don't pick up guys. I've got too much going on to worry about some wanna-be bad boy’s fragile ego.” Just the hint of a smile curved her lips.

“Wanna-be huh?”

She grinned. “I never said that was you, I said boy.” She reached up and ran one hand over the t-shirt he wore. “You're all man.”

He looked at her for several seconds, trying to figure out what she was up to. “How about a little ice cream to celebrate being done for tonight?”

She pretended to consider the idea. “It's not as good as what I had in mind, but it will do... for now.” She sat upright, then pushed herself to her feet.

“What did you have in mind?” Ruger watched her get to her feet.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “Too late now. Now you owe me ice cream.” She headed in the kitchen without even a look back. Ruger got up and followed.

Krissi was in a rare mood. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt quite like this. Happy to have her homework done and to have Ruger in her apartment. She was playful. He'd promised not to interfere with her homework and he hadn't. Now that it was done, she wanted nothing more than to unfold her bed, toss some blankets on it and crawl all over him. Instead, she took a couple bowls out of the cabinet and shook her head at the direction of her thoughts.

Krissi didn't know why she couldn't get him off her mind, but she was glad he seemed to be having the same problem with her. Ruger came into the kitchen right behind her, squeezed past her to get to the fridge and pull the carton of ice cream he'd brought from the fridge. He paused with the door open, still looking inside, then glancing at her.

“It looks like I'm not the only one with an ice cream weakness.”

She lifted one shoulder. “You don’t think my ass got to be this size all on its own, did you?”

He set the carton on the counter and tugged her against him. Lowering his head, he stopped just before their lips met. “Your ass is perfect.” He gripped one cheek with each hand to make his point and lifted her up until their mouths met. Heat pooled in her belly as his kiss scorched her mind. When he set her back on her feet, she was breathless and had to put one hand on the counter to brace her unsteady legs.

“Wow.” Krissi took several deep breaths.

“Spoon?” Ruger asked, moving the bowls she'd pulled down to in front of him. She opened the drawer in front of her, handed him the ice cream scoop and pulled out a pair of spoons for them to eat with. He started serving the treat then stopped, his hand freezing in mid-air. “You want a lot or a little?”

“I'll tell you when to stop.” She watched until he had the bowl almost full but not mounded over. “Stop.” Ruger glanced at her but didn't say a word as he started putting ice cream in the other bowl. When he'd finished, he put the carton back in the freezer and the scoop in the sink before picking up his bowl, she'd already taken hers, and together they went back to the couch.

They sat at opposite ends, facing each other, with their feet up on the seat between them. Ruger had kicked his boots off before earlier when she'd been working on homework.

“So, what's your favorite flavor?” Ruger asked as he lifted the spoon to his mouth.

“Depends on my mood.” She licked her spoon clean. “You saw the freezer, what are there? Three different flavors in there?”

“Four now.”

“See. It's like that because sometimes I'm tired and want chocolate, sometimes I'm happy and want something with more flavor depth, and some days I'm lonely or otherwise not feeling my best and I want something comforting like mint chocolate chip.”

“No vanilla?”

“Sometimes vanilla, but not as often. I like vanilla, but not too often.” She gave him an inviting smile. He watched her tongue slide over the mound of ice cream on her spoon and his eyes darkened. Krissi saw her opportunity and continued playing her tongue over her ice cream with every bite, coyly lowering her lashes now and then. She dropped her eyes to make herself seem embarrassed or submissive, she didn't care how he saw it as long as it turned him on, and from the growing bulge in his jeans, it was working.

“Do you have an oral fixation or what?” he growled after several minutes.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” She continued to eat her ice cream, pretending she hadn't been doing anything to entice him. His eyes narrowed but he didn't comment. She gave him a wide eyed innocent look and shifted her legs slightly, making a point to slide one foot along the length of his thigh, almost but not quite touching the bulge at the apex. Moving slowly, he crooked one finger in her direction.

“Come here.”

“I'm right here.”

“Come closer.”

She swung her feet down and slid a little closer. “Like this?”

“Closer.” His voice was husky.

“How close?”

“Turn around and sit right here.” Ruger dropped one leg off the front edge and held his arms open so she could settle in against him. She scooted back until her ass was between his thighs and leaned back against his chest. “Just like that.” His voice was barely more than a whisper as his breath feathered across her neck. A shiver ran through her body, then she relaxed against him, his warmth and touch reminding her of how it felt to wake in his arms.

It was a little awkward when he brought his arms back around her and started eating his ice cream around her, but he felt so good behind her, she didn't mind. A couple minutes later something cold and wet landed on her neck.

“Hold on,” he said an instant before his mouth settled over the coldness. Ruger sucked off the glob, then licked away any remnants. “Mmm, it's even sweeter this way.” He set his nearly empty bowl on the coffee table and lowered his mouth to her neck once more. A low groan escaped her throat as his tongue swiped along her skin over and over. She hurried to take the last bite of her ice cream and set her bowl aside. She dropped her hands onto his legs on either side of her and curled her fingers into the denim covered flesh of his thighs. His mouth moved up along the sensitive skin of her neck until he pulled her earlobe into his mouth and gently bit.

Krissi closed her eyes and fell into the pool of sensations he was drowning her in. His hands slid down along her arms then back up and around her body. They cupped her full breasts through her clothes, kneading and squeezing them with just enough pressure to make her moan and wish for more. With effort, she straightened here fingers, then slid them up and down his denim covered legs trying in vain to find some bit of his skin.

“More.” The word escaped her lips before she was aware of thinking it. Her head dropped to one side and she arched into his touch. Moisture pooled between her thighs and her hips shifted, moving closer, pressing tighter against the thick ridge of his engorged cock. He sucked and nibbled at her ear and neck, his fingers playing over tightening flesh of her nipples through the thin cloth of her shirt.

“Hmm. I suspected you didn't have a bra on. It was making me crazy every time you moved and they jiggled or bounced. Now it means I have more freedom to play with them.” He kneaded and squeezed the globes. “Baby, you know, I love your ass. You have a great ass. But your tits are even better.” She tilted her head back to rest against his chest and her finger dug into his legs again. His cock was a thick bulge against her back and her breathing grew rough as he continued to tease her.

After a while she could take the torment no longer. “Give me just a second.” She headed for the bathroom. After taking care of business she stripped out of her shorts and underwear, leaving the old cotton panties she'd been wearing in the laundry hamper but kept on the over-sized shirt that hung half way down her thighs. Krissi grabbed some condoms from the medicine cabinet before going back out to him. In the living room, she found that he'd pulled the coffee table away from the futon and was waiting for her.

“This is your bed, right?”

“Yeah.” She frowned not sure what he was up to.

“Let's fold it down so we have more room.”

“All right.” She dropped the condoms on the table at one end of the futon and showed him how to lay the bed flat, then got her sheets, blankets and pillows from the closet and together they got the bed put together.

“Now come here.” Ruger pulled her close and once more lowered his mouth to hers. He drew her into a kiss that was, at first, tender, but soon grew passionate. Hands slid down her sides and up under the edge of her long shirt. They smoothed over her skin, making her skin heat and her pussy swell. His hands inched up over her the back of her thigh, she waited on edge for him to discover what was missing. It didn't take long. When his hands reached Krissi’s ass and found nothing but bare skin he growled, low in his throat. Squeezing her ass cheeks, Ruger pulled her against him until she felt his erection sandwiched between them. He picked her up and walked forward until her back hit the wall. “I want to take you here, hard. Against the wall, just like this.” His voice was low and rough in her ear.

She gasped, trying to get enough breath to speak. “Yes.” She bent over sideways and snatched the string of condoms from the table. “Yes.”

He set her on her feet and tugged her shirt off over her head. She held the string of condoms in her teeth while her hands went to his belt, fumbling for a moment, unbuckling it then going to work on his jeans. Ruger didn't bother to kick his jeans off, just shoved them down off his hips. As soon as she got him covered with one of the thin rubber sheaths, he lifted her up again, his mouth covering hers. Heat and desire washed through her again as Ruger lifted her as though she weighed nothing and lowered her down onto his thick cock. Krissi wrapped her legs around his waist. The feeling of being trapped between him and the wall, his mouth hungry on hers and the thick cock sliding in and out worked together to throw her over the edge into blinding pleasure. She screamed into his mouth as her body seized and clamped down on his.

Ruger never slowed his pace. Krissi had barely come down from the first peak when the intense sensations thrust her over again. Her hands gripped his shoulders. She was only vaguely aware of her fingers digging into his skin as she pulled him closer. She lost count of how many times he made her orgasm, made her scream out her pleasure before his hands tightened on her ass and his rhythm faltered. His thrusts slowed but became harder and deeper. The angle shifted slightly and his cock hit a spot deep inside her so sensitive that by the time he stiffened and exploded, she was screaming and clamping down around him again.

They collapsed against the wall for a moment, panting. Ruger eased himself out of her then lowered her until her feet hit the floor but she was glad he didn't let her go just yet. Her legs wouldn't have held. Without his help, she would have slid to the floor and happily laid there until the haze of pleasure had passed and her limbs were no longer jelly.

Ruger wasn't sure what had come over him. When he discovered she'd pretended everything was normal and had helped him get the bed made, all without any panties on, he lost what little control he'd had. He'd pinned her against the wall and fucked her with everything he'd had instead of the softer, more gentle screwing he'd planned on. A small amount of regret haunted him as they lay in her bed later. He was on his back with her curled against him, her head on his shoulder as the soft snore escaped her sweet lips. A smile he couldn't hold back curved his lips. He suspected she would be horrified to find out she snored.

Once they'd settled into the bed, she'd curled against him and had fallen asleep almost instantly. He lay in the short, uncomfortable bed and, while he was glad to be with her, he decided that he would do his best to convince her to stay at his place more often. His bed was far more comfortable. He shifted, trying not to disturb her as he attempted to get comfortable on the lumpy mattress. It was a long time before drifted off to sleep.

A screaming alarm jerked Ruger from a sound sleep. He sat upright, reaching for the pistol he kept on his night stand. It wasn't there. Shit. A groan and movement beside him reminded him where he was and who he was with. Krissi reached up and slapped the clock a couple times and the screaming stopped. Ruger stretched and lay back down beside her.

“Where are you off to this morning?”

“I've got class at nine.”

He looked up at the clock, blinked and looked back to her. “Babe, it's five.”

“I have to get showered and ready for work, then catch the bus.”

He frowned. “What time do you catch the bus?”

“Seven-fifteen.”

“You spend almost two hours on the bus just to get to school?

“Not quite, but with having to change busses and when they run, I end up late if I leave any later.”

“No such hurry this morning. I'll take you to school. That means you can lay here and talk to me a minute.”

She frowned for a second then relaxed. “Okay.”

“So, after your classes what do you do? Run me through a typical Monday for you.”

“I spend the time between classes in the library working on my homework, then after my last class I take the bus to the diner.”

“How long does that take?”

“Forty-five minutes to an hour.” She shrugged one arm.

“What time is your shift?”

“Four to ten, usually, though sometimes it changes.”

“Then you catch the bus again and come home.”

“Pretty much.”

“Tell me why you don't have a car?” He ran one finger over her cheek and watched her blink, half-asleep.

“Cars are expensive.”

“Okay,” he waited for more.

“I'm living as carefully as I can and saving nearly every penny I can to pay for school.”

“I can get you a car, if you need one.”

“I don't need one. I can take the bus just fine.”

“But you're wasting several hours a day on it. Trips that should take ten or twenty minutes if you drove.”

“It's not just the car, or the gas, it's insurance and maintenance. All of that takes money. Money that I could be using for classes.”

He could tell she wasn't listening to him. He fell silent for a while, considering his options. “So, what time is your first class again?”

“Nine.” She rolled over and ran one hand down his chest.

He glanced at the clock again. “Looks like we have plenty of time.” He rolled up over her and lowered his mouth to hers.

“What do you wanna do with the loaner again?” Mac asked looking at Ruger from the corner of his eye.

“None of your business.” Ruger scowled and gave the other man a dark look. “All you need to know is that I've talked to Sadist. He cleared it. All I need is a vehicle that runs good and has a clean title.”

Mac flipped through some papers, took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “Take the Mustang. It looks like crap but it's clean and it's reliable. I have a hard time getting any one to take it because of how it looks.”

“Keys on the rack with the rest?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. I'll be back later.”

Ruger went out and got into the battered blue car. The sports car was more than ten years old and Mac hadn't been kidding when he'd said it looked like crap but when Ruger turned the key it started right up and ran smooth, probably smoother than it had fresh off the show room floor. Satisfied, he closed the door and headed out. Because of the run through of her day, he’d talked her into this morning, Ruger knew Krissi was at work, so that's where he headed.

He parked the car in the small lot beside the diner, directly under a light. It didn't matter now but she wouldn't be getting off until after dark and he wanted her to feel safe as she left. Inside he looked around until he spotted her then sat down at a table.

“Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you here today,” she said bringing him a menu. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Coffee is fine, but that's not really why I'm here.” He looked up at her and wanted to smile, her hair was pulled up into a tight bun with only a few strands sticking out in every direction, but all he could think about was how it had felt in his hands just a few hours earlier.

“I'll get that for you and be right back,” she glanced toward the counter at a man watching her with a scowl. “I can't visit right now, my boss is on the war path,” Krissi said under her breath.

“All right.” Ruger let her go but watched the man at the bar discreetly while he looked over the menu. It was a little late for lunch but he hadn't eaten since he'd fed her on the way to her class that morning. Ordering food would give him more of a chance to talk to her and maybe the boss would back off or she would get a break. When she came back with a mug of coffee and bowl of creamers, she placed them in front of him and asked if he was ready to order. “Oh, I have an order all right.” He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. She gave him a tight smile and glanced back toward the counter where the older man stood scowling at her. “How about a mushroom-swiss burger?”

“Fries okay?”

“It's fine. Do you get a break any time soon?”

Krissi glanced at her watch. “In about forty-five minutes, then only for ten minutes.”

“That's fine. I'll eat while I wait.”

She frowned for a second then smiled again. “I'll put this in.” Turning she headed back to the kitchen.

Ruger looked around the small diner while he waited. There was nothing remarkable about the place. There were only about fifteen tables, generic laminated tables with red vinyl chairs or booths. It wasn't a meal time but there were four other busy tables, not a bad showing for such a small place this time of day.

Krissi checked with each of them, making sure they weren't needing anything then she kept herself busy by cleaning things behind the counter. Ruger noticed there seemed to only be Krissi and the cook working. He didn't count her boss because he wasn't working, he was standing around giving her dirty looks. The cook set a plate in the window and before he had a chance to call out that the order was ready, Krissi picked it up. A smile on her face she carried the plate out and set it down in front of him.

“Anything else I can get you?” she asked.

“Not off hand. Thanks though.” Ruger watched as she checked on each of the tables again. Scowling as one man patted her ass as she walked past. He knew why she put up with it, but he still didn’t like it. He took his time, eating slowly so he wouldn’t get done until shortly before time for her break, though he didn't know how she would manage a break with no one else to cover her tables. His silent question was answered about ten minutes before she was scheduled to take her break. Another waitress came in, at least he assumed she was another waitress because she wore an outfit identical to the too tight, scoop-necked t-shirt and black denim shorts Krissi wore. He watched as the new woman disappeared into the back for a few minutes then came back wearing an apron like the one Krissi had on. He paid his ticket, leaving a tip on the table, and waited for Krissi to let him know she was off the clock. After a moment, she came out of the kitchen, her apron gone.

“What did you need?” she asked.

“Come outside with me for a minute.” He opened the door and waited for her to go out first.

“Okay, but I only have a few minutes.”

“I know. I won't keep you long.” Once they were outside he led her out into the middle of the lot. “What do you think?” he said standing next to the Mustang.

“About what?” She squinted up at him, confusion clear on her face.

“This.” He smacked the fender of the car.

“It's a car.” She frowned. “It looks like it will probably break down in the next block.”

“Here.” He held out the key.

“What?” She didn't take the key. “I told you, I can't afford a car right now.”

“I didn't say anything about charging you. It runs good, despite how it looks. It won't leave you stranded, I promise.”

“What? Why?” She looked at him then at the car then back at him.

“Because I don't like you on the bus at night. I hate that you spend at least three hours every day going back and forth to work and school.”

“I can't accept this.” She still didn't take the key. “You can't buy this for me.”

“I didn't.”

“Huh?” she frowned again.

“The club has an auto shop, this is one of our loaners. One that's not used often because no one wants to drive it. It's too ugly to suit most of our customers. It runs good, has a clean title should you get stopped, it's just ugly.”

She looked at the car. “It is ugly. You're sure it runs good?”

“I wouldn't have you drive it if I wasn't.”

“This is too much. It's not like we're even really dating.”

Ruger took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he tried to figure out how to get her to see things his way. “Babe,” he stepped closer, until his body brushed against hers. “I've never taken anyone else to my house.”

She looked up at him, blinking.

“And I never, never sleep over.”

She just stared.

“You know what that means?”

She shook her head.

“Krissi, I can't speak for you but it's a lot more than a one night stand, or even a short fling for me. I don't say this lightly, but at least on my end, what’s between us is something different. It has been from the start.”

“Wh- what do you mean?”

“Babe, I don't take women home with me. I'll go to their place or take them to my room at the clubhouse if I wanna fuck. Never to my place.” He paused to let that sink in. “You're the only woman, other than my housekeeper, to have seen my bedroom, and she makes the bed but has never been in it.”

She looked away as if unsure what to say.

“Look, I'm not saying it makes you mine, or that it’s any kind of commitment, but I want to know you're safe.” Ruger took a deep breath. “I want to know you're not walking a mile at 10PM, especially in your neighborhood, because you missed your stop.” He watched her a moment and thought he saw her resolve crumbling. “Just think, it will give you at least an extra two hours, plus however long you spend getting to and from classes, to study or do something else. Like maybe spend it with me...” He gave her a hopeful look.

“All right.” Krissi took the key. “But it's not a commitment. I can return it any time.” She met his gaze and waited for an answer before looking away.

“Agreed. Now, you do have your driver's license with you, right?”

She shot him a dirty look. “Yes, I have my driver's license.”

“Hey, don't kill me.” He held his hands up in front of his body. “I was just making sure.” He bent down and gave her lips a quick kiss. “Your ten minutes is almost up. Any chance I'll see you tonight?”

She looked at him for just a second, at the car then glanced at the diner. “I get off at 8, but I've got some homework I've got to get done.”

“I've got the closing shift at the bar.” Ruger watched her a moment. “Can I come over when I get off?”

“Call first, I'm not sure I'll still be up.”

“All right. Go back to work, I'll see you later.” He bent and gave her a quick hard kiss then watched her go back inside before turning and walking the two blocks to Drifters.

Ruger sat at the large table in the center of the room at the rear of the clubhouse. The one set aside for club business. Sadist sat to his right, quiet and almost sullen, while Tuck leaned back in his seat, almost sprawled in his chair on the other side of Sadist. The three of them waited as the rest of the guys trailed in and sat down. Once everyone who was appearing was there, Crash stood and closed the door, locking it against intrusions.

Tuck scanned the faces around the table, making sure everyone's attention was on him. “When's the last time the room was swept?” He looked at Gizmo.

“I checked it this morning. We're clean,” the younger man, and the club tech wizard, said with a nod.

“Good.” Tuck looked around as if gauging the mood of the room. “We've got some things we need to address, both new stuff and some already in the works.” He looked at Sadist. “Tell them.”

The vice president took a deep breath and began to speak, his usual happy, teasing manner gone, he looked much like he had a couple nights before, when they'd been questioning the girls. “We've got a couple things that need attention.” His eyes scanned the room and stopped on one man. “Lurch you and Mac are the point of contact for the coyote. We've got a shipment scheduled to be delivered tonight. Should be two, get them to the safe house and taken care of. Take a couple more men if you need to. I need to feel out the new girls and see if any of them want to disappear. Any that do, we can drop off with the illegals to get them clear.” Sadist checked the paper in front of him then looked up again. “Watt, you and Crash are on the haul from Green Valley to Phoenix on Wednesday. I want no less than a half-dozen on that ride. Make it look like a pleasure trip, get the shit delivered and the cash back here. You know the drill.”

“I do,” Watt said with a nod.

“Good.” Sadist nodded then looked at Gizmo. “I want you to check over all the equipment before they leave. Check the truck and bikes before they head out tonight, and again on Wednesday. Also, scan all the businesses this week. I want to be sure the only bugs in place are ours.”

“Got it,” the kid said, Gizmo had not yet hit 25, but unless he tried to look older most people guessed his age somewhere near 17.

“That's it for this week, we've got several things coming up in the next couple weeks though, a few bigger, most about the same size,” Sadist said, giving the meeting back to Tuck.

“All right, any more business, concerns that need to be addressed?” Tuck looked at the group for input.

“I'm sure you're aware of the loaner Ruger got for his girl, and I have no problem with it.” Mac said, holding his hands open in front of him. “I'd like to know though, what we know about this girl? Especially if he's getting this serious about her. Is she gonna be a danger to us?”

Ruger resisted the urge to growl Whenever any member got serious about a girl, the club had her checked out. He knew that but he didn’t like anyone talking about Krissi like this. “Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about her myself, but I've got no reason to think she's anything but what she appears. A woman struggling to make a better life for herself.” He stopped and took a deep breath, fighting the urge to defend her without reason.

Tuck turned to Lurch. “Run a check on her, see what pops.”

“I'm gonna need her full name, DOB would be even better”

“Krystal Montoya. That's Krystal with a K. I've seen her driver's license but I can't remember more. I'm not sure how I'll get what you need but I'll figure it out.” Ruger wanted to say no, but he knew they needed the information.

“Get a pic of her driver's license. Tell her it's for insurance for the loaner.” Mac put it. “It's not entirely untrue, we copy the license of everyone we loan our cars out to.”

Ruger looked at him a moment. “I can do that. I'll snap a pic with my phone when I see her tonight.”

“Just be careful until we have the report back, all right?” Tuck said. “For all we know she could be a plant from another club trying to find out what we've got going on and how they can take over our operation.” Grumbles spread around the room but Ruger ignored them. He'd been careful about what he'd said to her and would be until he had no doubts about her loyalty, no matter what Lurch's check said. There was a little chatter as Tuck checked with the rest of the men and called the meeting to a close. Crash unlocked the door and the men went about their business. Ruger went back to the bar to make sure things were ready for the evening.

Krissi slogged up the stairs, her purse and back pack over the same shoulder and her keys in her hand. She didn't want to have to stand outside her door digging for keys if it could be avoided. At the door she looked around, making sure there was no one lurking nearby, unlocked the door and hurried inside. After locking the door behind her, Krissi hung her purse on the doorknob and went to the couch, well, bed folded to used as a couch. Dropping her backpack next to her laptop on the coffee table she collapsed back on the futon and stared up at the ceiling for a moment. Except for the drive home, she'd spent the last six hours on her feet and now they ached, all of her hurt, though some of her twinges and pains were from something far more pleasurable than working on her feet all day. Smiling at the memory of what she'd done with Ruger the night before, and again that morning, she sat up and opened her bag. She needed to get her homework done before he called. With a deep breath, she pulled out her notebooks, opened the computer and got to work.

Krissi’s phone rang at 11:15, making her jump. She'd turned it face down when she'd started this essay, and between research and writing the cursed thing, she'd lost track of time.

“Hey.” She couldn't keep the smile off her face once she saw Ruger's name on the screen.

“Hey yourself. I take it this means you're still up. Can I come over?”

“Yeah, I could stop for the night. Come on over.” She needed at least a little sleep tonight, and she would get some with him there, eventually.

“Great I'll be there in ten or fifteen minutes.”

“See you then.” Krissi hung up, closed her computer and put the notebooks back in her bag for class the next day then quickly started straightening the barely more than one room apartment. It wasn't bad, mostly just as they'd left it that morning. In the kitchen, she washed the dishes from the night before and put them away, glancing down she realized she was still wearing her work clothes, and it occurred to her she should change, but into what? Should she put on something nice for Ruger, or something comfortable to sit around in? Before she could decide, a knock sounded on her door. With a deep breath, she gave up the idea of changing and went to let him in. She opened the door and found him standing there, plastic bags dangling from one hand and a scowl on his face.

“You didn't even check to be sure it was me again, did you?”

She gave him a vaguely sheepish smile but didn't answer as she stepped aside to let him in. He stepped inside, moved to the small kitchen to one side of the entrance and lifted the bags to the counter.

“I thought you might be hungry. And even if you're not, I am, so I brought enough for us both.”

Krissi laughed and gave her head a slight shake. “You don't have to feed me all the time. I get enough to eat.”

“But I like feeding you.” He pulled her up against his side with one arm and dropped a kiss on her mouth before turning back to the bags.

With a sigh, she gave in. “All right, what did you bring?”

He opened one bag, started pulling out boxes and setting them on the counter. “I wasn't sure what you would like so I got a little bit of everything.”

Krissi opened a couple boxes then stopped. “This is a ton of food, there's no way we can eat it all.”

“Yeah, eat what you want then we'll have the rest as leftovers.”

She pulled a pair of plates from the cabinet, handed him one and helped herself, filling her plate before taking it to the coffee table.

“How was your day?” Ruger sat beside her, setting his plate not far from hers on the short table.

“All right.”

“Is your boss always like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Standing around watching you, scowling.”

“No, not always. Most of the time he's not too bad, when he's even there. He isn't usually. Normally he comes in once or twice a day to check on things but something happened. I'm not sure what. And he was there all day long, watching everyone like a hawk.” She rolled her eyes. “It made for a long day, but this too shall pass. Whatever caused it will blow over and things will go back to normal.” She shifted her butt, getting more comfortable. “How was your day? What did you do?”

“After I brought you the car, we had a meeting, then I covered the bar at Drifter’s until I’d decided it was a waste of time and money to stay open.”

“Anything important?”

“Yeah but it's club business, so I can't share. Mac did remind me that I need to get a copy of your driver's license though.”

“Copy of my license?” She frowned, wondering why he would need it and why this Mac was asking about it.

“For the car. It's standard. We get a copy of a license every time we loan a car. It's an insurance thing.”

“Oh. But I don't have a copier, how?-”

“We've got a copier at the shop if you want to stop by and let them run a copy. Or I can just take a picture of it and we can print it out.”

“That would be easiest.” She leaned over and dug through her back pack for her wallet. After pulling it free, she slid it across the table “Here.”

He took several pictures of the front then flipped it over and did the same of the back before pushing it back in her direction. “Just in case one is too blurry to read.” He stuck his phone back in his pocket and went back to eating. “After the meeting, I went to the bar. I spent a couple hours in my office then worked the bar most of the evening.”

“Do you work the bar often?”

“Not normally but I had a bartender quit a couple weeks ago. We're shorthanded until I can replace him, so I'm covering his hours.”

“On top of doing all the management?”

“Those are the perks of owning your own business,” Ruger said with a shrug.

“You mind if I use your shower again?” Ruger asked after they'd picked up the food and dishes from eating.

“No, go right ahead. Let me know if you need anything.”

Ruger reached down, took her hand and pulled her close. “You could join me.”

“I don't know.” Krissi smiled but looked down. “I don't think we'll both fit.”

“It’ll be tight but I know how to make it work.” He leered but kept it playful and hoped she'd know he was teasing. She narrowed her eyes and stretched up to kiss his chin.

“You know, I guess I do need a shower after all.” Krissi kept her head tilted back as she watched him. The temptation was too much and he lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips with his. His hands found her hips and pulled her snug against him while his tongue plunged into her mouth and he reveled in her taste and responsiveness. Her hand slid up his torso, grabbing and pulling at his kutte. That pulled him out of his haze.

“Mmmm, baby.” Ruger lifted his head and guided her hand away from the pistol in the holster under his vest. “Let's get out of these clothes,” he pulled away and slid his kutte off his shoulders, revealing the ruger semi-automatic pistol under his arm. Folding the vest, he dropped it on the table in front of the still folded futon. Then he pulled her close again and tugged the dark t-shirt she wore over her head. “Did you lock the door?” he glanced in that direction. She looked for a second or two longer.

“I always do, but yes, it's locked.”

“Good. I don't want to leave this out here with the door unlocked.” He shrugged out of his shoulder holster, wrapped the straps around the gun, leaving the grip unhindered in case he needed to pull it for some reason and put the weapon on top of his kutte.

“Is that the ruger you were named after?” Krissi seemed to watch his every move.

“One of them.” Ruger turned back to her and couldn't resist the urge to run his eyes down her body, taking in every curve. Running his tongue over his teeth, he grinned and reached back to grab the collar of his shirt and drag it off over his head. When he could see her face again, her eyes had darkened and her lids had dropped in what he was starting to recognized as her hot and bothered look. His cock twitched. He needed her naked. Now.

Pulling her up against him again, Ruger kissed her hard, his lips demanding her attention and participation. Krissi’s hands came up to grip his arms, fingers curling as she pulled at him. Ruger tried to slide his hands into the back of her shorts to grip her ass, but they were too tight. Ruger growled against her mouth, frustrated. Krissi’s hands disappeared then her shorts loosened. He pushed his hands inside, under the waistband of her underwear until each hand was filled with the round globes of her ass. With a deep groan of pleasure, he jerked her tight against him so she could feel how he throbbed to be inside her. Her hands curled into his back and he couldn't hold back the low growl. He loved it when she got aggressive.

Remembering that they were headed to the shower, Ruger pulled away again. “Shower remember?” He kicked off his boots and unbuttoned his jeans, before looking back at where she stood watching him, her hair a tousled mess and her lips swollen from his kiss. “This will go better if you finish undressing.” He dropped his pants and underwear and stepped out of them and into the bathroom to turn on the water. He adjusted the temperature and stepped under the spray before Krissi joined him.

“I can't believe I'm doing this,” she said as she closed the curtain behind her.

“Why?”

“This shower is tiny, and I'm...not.” Krissi looked away, obviously embarrassed.

“Yes, the shower is small, you on the other hand are perfect.” Ruger slid his hand along her side and down to her hip. He hated the way she talked about herself as if there was something wrong with her. Personally, he thought she was perfect. Full and soft to curl against, not stick and bones with fake tits. “There's nothing attractive about scrawny. I like a little curve to my women.” She lifted her gaze slowly until she was looking up at him, her eyelashes dotted with water droplets making them look big and innocent.

“You're not just messing with me?” Krissi’s voice was uncertain, as if she’d been lied to before and didn’t know if she could to believe him. Just the idea made him want to find whoever it was and rip them limb from limb.

“Baby, I don't lie if I can help it. I have no reason to want to lie to you, much less need. I noticed you that first night because you're hot and you make my dick stand up and shout for attention. I hoped you would come back for the same reason. That hasn't changed.” Ruger cupped one breast and squeezed gently before moving his hand so he could pinch her nipple between his thumb and finger. Krissi whimpered. “And the way you react to me? That's even hotter.” Reaching down he took her hand and guided it to his cock. “That should do away with any doubts about how attractive I find you.” Her hand slid up his length, then wrapped around him. He nearly came when she squeezed his cock and ran her hand up and down a few strokes. Instead he gritted his teeth and put one hand over hers to get her to stop moving. “Baby, you're killing me. You keep that up and I'll be done right here.”

Krissi looked up at him through her lashes. “That would be a shame.” Her voice had gone low and breathy, making his cock twitch in her hand. A coy, knowing smile inched across her lips and she lifted her other hand and traced a small circle around his nipple. “I was starting to get into the idea of the two of us in the shower.”

“I'm not taking you against the wall again, not this time. I have other plans.” Ruger pulled her hands away from his skin and spun her around until she faced the shower stall and gave her a light push. “Get in there, I'll be right there.” He waited until she was under the warm spray, her eyes closed and head tilted back as she let the water soak her hair, then turned to the sink. Gripping the edge, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, at least a little. He could have sworn his self-control was better than this, but Krissi did things to him he didn't quite understand. Ruger felt like a green teenager again. He really didn't need this, not now. With a shake of his head he opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out a condom. He didn't want to take her against the wall again, but with the way she was tempting him, it would be better to be prepared.

Ruger (Demented Souls, #1) by Melissa Stevens (1)

Search

Friend:

Hot Authors

Random Novels